Merz: Lavrov's remarks after meeting with German counterpart show Russia is not ready for serious talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Russia has demonstrated it is unwilling to engage in serious negotiations following Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's dismissive response to his unexpected meeting with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul.

Source: Politico, a Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation, citing Merz, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Wadephul met Lavrov at the UN on 26 September in the first meeting between the foreign ministers of Germany and Russia since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. After the meeting, Lavrov described Wadephul's positions as "nothing new".

"Russia's subsequent assessment of that meeting has shown that Russia is apparently not at all interested in serious talks at this time. We will therefore do everything in our power to continue assisting Ukraine – not only militarily, but also politically, financially, and economically," Merz said, commenting on Lavrov's remarks.

He reiterated the German government's demands to the Kremlin: that Russia end its invasion, that the Europeans have the right to participate in any negotiations on the terms of ending the war and that Ukraine be given a path to EU membership.

"I can only say once again that Russia will not win this war, and Russia itself will suffer massive damage – including to its economy. There will be a price to pay if Russia continues this war," Merz stressed.

Background:

• The meeting between the German and Russian foreign ministers in New York was their first since 2022. Although representatives of the German and Russian governments have attended various international meetings since then, there have been no direct talks at foreign minister level.
• Wadephul explained that he had met Lavrov to tell him that escalation is unacceptable and to ensure that negotiations with Russia are not left solely to the US.
• He also raised the issue of the blockade of grain exports in the Black Sea during the talks, but this produced no results.

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