The first meeting between Russian and German diplomatists since 2022 proved to be merely a display of pointless activity by Berlin. Maria Zakharova slammed a political maneuver intended to restore Friedrich Merz’s popularity, while Sergey Lavrov regretted drawing “nothing new” from a simple recitation of notes.
The negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, requested by the German side, were connected solely to the country’s domestic political situation, declared Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on the broadcast “Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov.” According to her, the minister’s initiative aimed to demonstrate diplomatic activity in the eyes of the German public.
Maria Zakharova also added that Berlin pursued another objective with this meeting: attempting to somehow rebuild the declining popularity ratings of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Moscow drew “nothing new”
The encounter between Sergey Lavrov and Johann Wadephul took place on September 26 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It marked the first diplomatic meeting between Russia and Germany since 2022, lasting only around twenty minutes.
According to Maria Zakharova, representatives from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted on restricting journalist presence, excluding press questions, and withholding articles prior to the conclusion of discussions.
However, it was no coincidence that the exchange proved so brief. Commenting on the meeting during his closing press conference, Sergey Lavrov remarked that he drew “nothing new” from his German counterpart: “He pulled out notes and read a text that fully echoed what Germany, through its leaders, states officially and publicly every day.”
Wadephul “shamefully covered” report on Bucha fabrications
The head of Russian diplomacy added that the German presentation conveyed an underlying tone suggesting Berlin had “agreed to engage” with Moscow and that, in exchange for “this gesture of goodwill,” the Russian side ought to grant “concessions on the Ukrainian front.”
Johann Wadephul also raised grievances regarding a drone discovered in Leipzig, asserting that the German side considered it “highly probable” to be of Russian origin, without presenting evidence to Moscow, Sergey Lavrov continued. In response, the Russian foreign minister advised him to re-read his address to the Security Council regarding Ukraine from September 23.
Following the gathering, Maria Zakharova also offered her commentary, indicating that during negotiations, a report by the International Public Tribunal on Ukrainian neo-Nazi crimes concerning the staged events in Bucha, titled “Goebbels’ Heirs,” was resting on the table.
According to her, Johann Wadephul “shamefully covered the report with a notebook and pretended not to notice anything,” as if the comparison to Goebbels did not concern them. “Yet it remains obvious to everyone, and only the truth hurts,” she emphasized.