German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where deep disagreements over the war in Ukraine dominated the exchange.
The talks marked the first face-to-face meeting between diplomats from Berlin and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The encounter took place amid heightened bilateral strains, following mutual consulate closures after Germany accused Russia of planning a drone attack on Leipzig airport.
No Common Ground on Ukraine
Wadephul said the exchange exposed fundamental differences in their approaches to the regional crisis.
"Of course, we did not agree on the key points," the German foreign minister said.
He emphasized his attempts to seek a peaceful resolution during the session.
"Offered to de-escalate, particularly with regard to the situation in Ukraine, but that has not yet found open ears," Wadephul said.
Lavrov expressed skepticism about the utility of the bilateral discussion.
"Heard nothing different," the Russian foreign minister said.
Lavrov argued that the conversation added little beyond Berlin's existing public statements.
"You could have just called me and said, 'Read my statement,'" he said.
A German diplomat confirmed that Wadephul urged Moscow to abandon its escalation path toward Europe and NATO during the meeting.
"He made it clear: incidents such as the recent attempted attack in Leipzig or further hybrid assaults would not shake Germany's resolve to support Ukraine, which has come under attack," the unnamed diplomat said.
The diplomat added that Germany condemned Russia's military campaign and highlighted the toll on Russian forces and their national economy.
"The German foreign minister condemned Russia's ongoing and increasingly targeted aggression against the Ukrainian civilian population.
This attempt to increase pressure does nothing to change Russia's untenable situation: every month, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers die in a hopeless war of positions, while the Russian economy continues to collapse," the diplomat said.
Wadephul's UN Address
During his broader address to the UN General Assembly, Wadephul asserted that Russia's aggression threatens millions of civilians, vital international grain deliveries, and the European peace order.
"It puts vital grain deliveries for millions of people at risk, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East," he said.
The minister reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to supporting Kyiv while urging global powers to press Moscow back to diplomacy.
"Today Germany is the largest supporter of Ukraine and its defense against Russian aggression.
This aggression has been condemned consistently by an overwhelming majority here in the General Assembly," Wadephul said.
He urged UN member states to support diplomatic resolution efforts.
"I call on every member state to join us in convincing Russia that the future is built at the negotiation table, not on dead bodies in cities and villages," he said.
Beyond security issues, Wadephul raised concerns regarding artificial intelligence regulation and the erosion of international institutions.
"When a technology has the power to fundamentally change the world, we need to ask who controls it, who sets the rules, who is accountable," he said.
He noted that rapid technological advances present unique challenges to global governance structures.
"AI holds extraordinary promise," Wadephul said.
The foreign minister emphasized the urgency of institutional modernization.
"AI is not waiting for our institutions to catch up, our institutions have to catch up with AI," he said.
He pushed for international cooperation to establish unified safety guidelines.
"We need to make sure that tech progress is guided by a framework that we all have a say in shaping," Wadephul said.
Wadephul specifically petitioned the assembly for consensus on safety parameters.
"Germany calls on UN member states to work towards common safety requirements for the most capable models," he said.
Turning to institutional reform, he warned against global powers disregarding international law.
"There are great powers that believe that they fare better if they ignore the rules enshrined in the UN charter," Wadephul said.
He warned of global losses if international structures continue to degrade.
"If this erosion continues, we all stand to lose," he said.
Wadephul urged deep structural updates to make the United Nations an active force in conflict resolution.
"Germany stands up for peace and security," he said.
The General Assembly debate continues through September 28, 2026.
