At UN, Russia and Germany's top diplomats hold first talks since 2022

Russian and Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea have been sharply curtailed in recent months as Kyiv and Moscow targeted each other's port infrastructure and vessels. Ukraine and its allies are now pushing to secure a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea and on strikes on energy infrastructure.

Russia has not given any clear indication publicly that it supports these initiatives. Wadephul, "Time is of the essence: given the food shortages in many countries — particularly in the Global South — all parties must be willing to engage constructively," the German delegation source said.

The German minister also "a pragmatic solution could ⁠pave the way for further concrete steps", the source said. BILATERAL TIES IN DEEP FREEZERelations between Moscow and Berlin, a close ally of Ukraine, have been in deep freeze since the Russian invasion, and tensions escalated further after a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August.

The German government said this month it ⁠had concluded that Russia was responsible for that attempted drone attack. It ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.

The Russian embassy in Berlin has dismissed ⁠these allegations as "fabricated provocation" and as "a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany". Wadephul used the talks to call on Russia "to abandon the dangerous path of escalation vis-à-vis Germany, Europe, and NATO", according to ⁠the delegation source.

Wadephul said incidents such as the attempted attack in Leipzig or further hybrid attacks would not shake Germany’s resolve to support Ukraine,.