Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Germany tells Russia to abandon escalation at UN
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Russia to “abandon its dangerous path of escalation” during closed-door talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations in New York on Saturday, a German diplomat said.
The meeting was the first between Russian and German foreign ministers since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. It came after tensions between Berlin and Moscow intensified in recent weeks. Germany has accused Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, and each country has ordered the closure of the other's consulate.
The German diplomat said Wadephul told Lavrov that incidents such as the Leipzig case or further hybrid assaults would not shake Germany's support for Ukraine. The diplomat said Ukraine dominated the meeting and that Wadephul condemned Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukrainian civilians.
Lavrov was due to address the UN gathering of world leaders later Saturday. He last met a German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, in January 2022, less than a month before Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Direct flights between Russia and Germany have been suspended since the invasion.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to Russia's TASS news agency, that Berlin initiated Saturday's meeting and that it lasted about 20 minutes. She said the German side had asked before the meeting that media access be restricted and opening remarks not be recorded.
Update
A German diplomat said Johann Wadephul urged Russia to abandon what he called a dangerous path of escalation toward Germany, Europe and NATO.
The German diplomat said Wadephul told Lavrov that the Leipzig incident and further hybrid assaults would not shake Germany's support for Ukraine.
The German diplomat said Ukraine dominated the closed-door meeting and that Wadephul condemned Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Maria Zakharova, cited by TASS, said Berlin initiated the meeting and that it lasted about 20 minutes.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 September 2026 at 16:06:42 UTC.
Update
Germany has accused Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport.
Russia and Germany have each ordered the closure of the other's consulate.
Direct flights between Russia and Germany have been suspended since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to TASS, that Berlin initiated the meeting and asked for restricted media access and no recording of opening remarks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 September 2026 at 15:15:42 UTC.
Update
The meeting was between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the UN in New York.
AFP reported it was the first such meeting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Lavrov last met a German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, in January 2022.
The Saturday meeting was closed to media.
Lavrov was due to address the UN gathering of world leaders later in the day.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 September 2026 at 15:01:57 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Russia's responsibility for the alleged attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport is presented as Germany's accusation, not as independently established fact.
The detailed evidence behind the alleged hybrid assaults is not supplied.
Source
AFP news report published on .