Germany and Russia Hold First Talks Since Ukraine Invasion

Germany Russia talks took place at the United Nations on Saturday, marking the first direct meeting between the two countries’ top diplomats since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Germany requested the meeting, which took place before Lavrov addressed world leaders at the Assembly. Wadephul urged Moscow to abandon what he called a “dangerous path of escalation” against Germany, Europe and NATO. He also pressed Lavrov to help secure an agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea.

Lavrov gave the encounter a cool reception. He said he had “learned nothing new” from the exchange and suggested Wadephul could have simply sent a written statement instead. The Russian minister added that Moscow was already discussing grain corridor arrangements with India, Egypt and Turkey.

Germany Russia talks come amid rising tension

The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of deep strain between Berlin and Moscow. Relations have deteriorated sharply since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which triggered sweeping German sanctions and a historic shift in Berlin’s defence policy.

Tensions rose further after a disputed drone incident at Leipzig airport in August 2026. German officials blamed Russia for the incursion, a claim Moscow denied. The episode fed wider European concerns about Russian drones targeting airports and infrastructure across the continent.

During his UN address, Lavrov questioned Germany’s military ambitions in Europe, invoking references to the country’s Second World War history. The remarks underscored how far apart the two sides remain despite Saturday’s rare face-to-face contact.

No agreement or joint statement followed the talks. Officials in Berlin have not signalled any immediate follow-up meeting, and the underlying disputes over Ukraine, grain exports and European airspace security remain unresolved.

Read more via Al Jazeera.

Fact-basis: Al Jazeera; The Kyiv Independent; corroborated by CNN and Bloomberg headline reporting dated September 26-27, 2026.