UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected calls from Germany to ease its escalation toward the country, accusing Germany of being Ukraine's main supporter and aspiring to be a leading military power in Europe. During his speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Lavrov questioned whether Berlin understood the potential consequences of its actions, referencing historical lessons from World War II. This exchange followed a meeting between Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, which was the first direct discussion since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Lavrov stated, "He simply reiterated his official public position condemning Russia," suggesting that the meeting did not constitute meaningful dialogue. Wadephul had urged Russia to abandon its aggressive stance toward Germany, Europe, and NATO. The relationship between Russia and Germany has deteriorated recently, particularly after an alleged drone attack at Leipzig airport, which Germany attributed to Russia.
Lavrov also criticized the militarization of Japan and indicated that Russia would veto any attempts by Germany and Japan to secure permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, citing their historical roles in World War II. He challenged Germany to provide evidence of any commercial vessels in the Black Sea that had been damaged by Russian strikes, asserting that there were none. Regarding the drone incident, he dismissed it as an unclaimed drone.
In his remarks, Lavrov condemned Western nations, claiming they aim to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia, which he argued would lead to a dead end for those nations. He recalled the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism and criticized the idea of Germany or Japan gaining permanent seats on the Security Council, a position supported by the United States.
Japan's deputy U.N. ambassador responded to Lavrov's comments, emphasizing Japan's commitment to peace and democratic values. Lavrov also accused the U.S. of undermining European security and fostering a hostile regime in Kyiv. He expressed Russia's readiness to return to a previously discussed agreement on ending the Ukraine war, which he claimed was reached during a meeting in Alaska in August 2025.
Lavrov's speech occurred amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, with both sides suffering significant military casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the assembly, urged other nations to continue pressuring Russia economically to hinder its military efforts. Following the assembly, U.S. lawmakers passed a sanctions bill against Russia, which President Trump signed into law but has not yet implemented. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is awaiting a date for proposed technical talks involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.