SPD foreign policy expert Adis Ahmetovic views the meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as a step toward ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Ahmetovic stressed that for months, political efforts to conclude the war must be intensified alongside the existing levels of humanitarian, financial, and military assistance to Ukraine.
He highlighted the significance of Minister Wadephul’s meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, calling it an “important first step that we, as coalition partners, will constructively support.” However, he added that further initiatives in this direction are necessary, particularly in coordination with close partners France and the United Kingdom, through the E3 format.
In similar discussions, Vice President of the Bundestag Omid Nouripour (The Greens) publicly supported Wadephul following his encounter with Lavrov. Speaking to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, Nouripour stated that any negotiations with the Kremlin would only be successful if Putin genuinely possessed the will for peace, which he currently lacks entirely.
Despite his skepticism about Russia’s intentions, Nouripour maintained that Europe could not rely on Donald Trump to advocate for its interests and agreed that Wadephul’s meeting with Lavrov was the correct course of action. He noted that anyone with realistic expectations could see that Russia is focused only on denigration, disparagement, and distortion.
Nouripour concluded by expressing hope that Wadephul had coordinated this talk with Poland and other EU partners, warning that otherwise, he risks weakening European unity.
