Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his German counterpart Johann Wadephul at the UN on Saturday -- the first such meeting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
The talks took place as tensions between Berlin and Moscow spiralled in recent weeks, with Germany accusing Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport and each country ordering the closure of the other's consulate.
Russian FM Lavrov meets with German counterpart at UN for 1st talks in over 4 YEARS — at request of Berlin
— RT (@RT_com) September 26, 2026
Wadephul demands media access restrictions, no Q&A, BAN on recording opening remarks
''Western democracy, the beautiful garden'' — MFA Spox Zakharova pic.twitter.com/TkrJ1Yz8TL
Lavrov, who will address the UN's gathering of world leaders in New York later in the day, last met with 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.
The meeting Saturday was closed to media, but Ukraine will likely have been top of the agenda.
Before the meeting with Lavrov, the German side demanded that media access be restricted and that the opening remarks not be recorded, Moscow's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to the Russian TASS news agency.
She said Saturday's meeting was initiated by Berlin.