German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) defended his recent meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Reporting on the matter, Wadephul stated that the encounter was the correct and necessary response following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, adding that the time had finally come to engage in dialogue. This marked the first meeting between a German foreign minister and his Russian counterpart in over four years, since January 2022.
Wadephul identified two primary drivers for his decision to meet. Firstly, he cited Russia’s deployment of armed drones at an airport in Leipzig. While claiming that no serious damage occurred, he emphasized that this action crossed a line, and he wanted to make it clear that Germany would resist and defend its interests against such incursions.
The second reason cited was the ongoing crisis concerning grain exports. He explained that numerous colleagues from the Global South had urged him to talk with Russia, as the current inability to transport grain from both Russia and Ukraine to these vulnerable regions threatens famine. This prompted Wadephul to advocate for a ceasefire in the Black Sea to facilitate these crucial food transports.
On a broader diplomatic note, Wadephul expressed his desire for the conversation to help reestablish a place for Europe at the negotiation table. He stressed that Europe has its own distinct interests and perspectives that must be addressed, and only European actors can appropriately introduce them. When asked if his participation was prompted by concerns over the upcoming local elections, where the AfD had strong showings and advocated for engagement with Russia, Wadephul countered that if that were the case, he would have held the discussions before the elections. He noted, however, that such questions are inevitably raised, and during the initial exchange, he pointed out that the lack of communication was abnormal, and that Russia’s reaction confirmed that the impasse was not rooted in Europe or Ukraine, but simply in Russia’s lack of willingness to enter genuine negotiations.
Wadephul also commented on the escalating global landscape, lamenting the proliferation of wars and conflicts worldwide, ranging from the Ukraine conflict to crises in the Strait of Hormuz and various regions in Africa. He described his and German diplomats’ mission as making every effort to reopen channels of dialogue, regardless of the difficulty.
Regarding the dynamic of the talks, Wadephul suggested that the Russian Foreign Minister’s response reflected a position of weakness, noting that anyone lacking solid arguments often adopts such a posture. He concluded that Russia cannot effectively explain to the world why it continues the war, which he described as senseless and responsible for thousands of casualties. Therefore, he found every attempt to speak out to be meaningful and correct.
Finally, addressing the suggestion that US President Donald Trump invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami, Wadephul viewed it as a significant test to gauge Russia’s sincerity regarding negotiations, aligning with the core idea of his own engagement. He agreed that inviting Putin was right, particularly if the opportunity could be used to speak with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. He insisted that great efforts must be made to finally bring an end to the terrible war. In response to whether Chancellor Merz would pose for a photo with Putin at the G20, Wadephul kept his answer open, stating that the decision would depend heavily on Putin’s behavior in the coming weeks and would be taken after close consultation with European partners.
