German and Russian diplomats hold first talks since 2022

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, marking the first talks between the two countries' top diplomats since 2022. Wadephul called on Lavrov to de-escalate, while Lavrov criticized Wadephul after the meeting. The encounter was unexpected and represents the first such contact since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The talks took place at the United Nations, where both diplomats were attending the annual gathering.