German Foreign Minister, Johan Wadeful, met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This meeting was initiated by Germany and is considered the first meeting at the foreign minister level since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. The two diplomats, after their meeting, shook hands and did not allow reporters to attend.
Details of the Meeting and Its Implications
The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced that this meeting was held at the initiative of Germany. This comes at a time when relations between Moscow and Brussels have severely deteriorated due to sanctions imposed on Russia. These sanctions were enacted following the start of the Ukraine war and Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. The last meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries took place in January 2022, when then-German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Moscow.
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Speeches by Other Officials at the General Assembly
Continuing the UN General Assembly, Moldovan Prime Minister, Vasile Tofan, expressed his views on the role of small countries in emerging technologies. He stated: "We want Moldova to become a place where emerging technologies are tested responsibly and laws are adapted simultaneously with evidence." The Chinese also delivered speeches at this assembly. Han Zheng, Vice President of China, emphasized the need to maintain order after World War II, stating: "We must act towards common and sustainable security and avoid a Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation." He also criticized unilateral military actions that contradict the UN Charter, specifically mentioning the United States' attacks on Iran.
Additionally, in another session, Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, criticized India, stating that his country is facing "foreign aggression" from India. He added that Pakistan's response to this aggression is its inherent right to self-defense. India also responded to these statements, accusing Pakistan of supporting terrorism.
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