NEW YORK — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The meeting is believed to be the first face-to-face encounter between the German and Russian foreign ministers since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The discussion took place in a room provided by the Russian delegation at the UN headquarters in New York and lasted approximately 20 minutes, according to a German delegation official. The encounter ended with both ministers shaking hands. Johann Wadephul, who serves as federal minister of foreign affairs in the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, was the first German foreign minister to meet with a Russian counterpart since the 2022 invasion.

A German delegation official stated that Johann Wadephul called on Russia to abandon its “dangerous path of escalation” toward Germany, Europe, and the NATO alliance. The official added that Wadephul expressed openness to a better relationship but stated it required a genuine willingness from Russia’s leadership to end the war in Ukraine. Wadephul emphasized that Germany would not accept hybrid attacks, such as the attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport in August 2026, and warned Russia against further escalation.

Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference that “nothing new came from” the conversation. The Russian foreign minister, who has held the post for an extended period, defended Russia’s war in Ukraine and criticized the West during his address to the U.N. General Assembly. He stated that the West “continues to try to maintain its privileges and to impose its own rules on everyone else.” Lavrov added, “A fairer, multipolar world order is emerging before our very eyes.” He also opposed the notion of Germany or Japan gaining a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, wrote on her personal Telegram channel that “tens of diplomats” had come to meet Lavrov to “shake his hand and thank Russia.” In his own address to the assembly, Johann Wadephul noted that an overwhelming majority of member nations have repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said, “Russia’s war targets the lives of millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture and the European peace order.” Wadephul urged Russia to negotiate toward ending the fighting in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media on Saturday morning, “It is essential that our partners not forget: Russia is escalating every single day.” The Ukrainian president added, “the world must choose stronger responses to keep the war from spreading further.” Ukrainian officials reported that Russian attacks killed four people on Saturday, September 26, 2026, while Russian authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people on the same day.

German officials confirmed that Wadephul reiterated Germany’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They emphasized that any improvement in relations with Russia remains contingent on a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. Lavrov, in contrast, maintained that the conflict stems from Western interference and expansion, a position he has consistently upheld in prior statements. Diplomatic sources noted the meeting was brief and did not include detailed negotiations or agreements. The encounter was arranged at the last minute, reflecting limited coordination between the two sides. Despite the lack of substantive outcomes, German officials described the exchange as a necessary diplomatic channel amid ongoing hostilities.