German Critics Claim Lavrov Ridiculed Germany’s Foreign Minister

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul’s return to direct talks with Moscow has drawn accusations that Russia used the encounter to ridicule Berlin while offering nothing toward ending its war against Ukraine.

CDU foreign policy lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter and political adviser Nico Lange challenged the handling and outcome of Wadephul’s meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York.

Their criticism centered on Moscow’s public dismissal of the exchange and its apparent efforts to portray Germany as the supplicant.

“Basically, Lavrov did not make a single concession, but brushed off our foreign minister and subsequently made him look ridiculous,” Kiesewetter told Politico.

The Saturday meeting, lasting just over 20 minutes on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, was the first bilateral encounter between the countries’ foreign ministers since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Competing Accounts of the Approach

Lange argued that the diplomatic arrangements helped Moscow present Berlin as approaching Russia from a position of weakness.

Lavrov said Germany had requested the meeting at the last minute the previous day.

An alternative account reported by AFP suggested he had first conveyed willingness to talk through third countries, prompting the German response.

Speaking to Die Welt TV, Lange described such indirect signaling as a Russian tactic: Moscow could encourage an approach, then publicly emphasize that Germany had initiated it.

The German delegation’s attendance at Russia’s mission reinforced that impression, he argued.

Lange acknowledged that Wadephul had proceeded to demonstrate Germany’s willingness to engage. But he said Lavrov had rewarded that effort with a rebuff.

A Public Dismissal

Lavrov subsequently said he had heard nothing beyond Berlin’s familiar public positions.

“You could simply have called me and told me, ‘Read my statement,’” he said he had told Wadephul.

According to German delegation sources, Wadephul urged de-escalation and demanded a serious Russian commitment to ending the war.

He also warned that hybrid attacks would deepen the damage to bilateral relations without weakening German support for Ukraine.

A further controversy concerned a document placed at Wadephul’s seat that promoted Russian claims that the Bucha massacre had been staged.

Footage showed him covering it with his own papers. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later circulated the scene on Telegram with a mocking comment.

Wadephul Defends Engagement

Wadephul acknowledged that the exchange produced no positive result, but defended the decision to hold it.

“You don’t have to negotiate with friends; you have to negotiate with opponents,” he told ARD.

He said several foreign ministers had encouraged direct contact and argued that Europe should not leave all engagement with Moscow to Washington.

Ukraine, he stressed, would not be excluded from discussions about its future.

The meeting won support from SPD foreign policy politician Adis Ahmetović and Greens leader Franziska Brantner, who welcomed the outreach while criticizing Russia’s response.

Kiesewetter instead warned against a separate German approach that sidelined Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine.