“Russia’s subsequent assessment of that meeting has shown that Russia is apparently not at all interested in serious talks at this time,” Merz said. “We will therefore do everything in our power to continue assisting Ukraine — not only militarily, but also politically, financially, and economically.”
Merz’s comments came in response to Lavrov’s notably dismissive assessment of his meeting with Wadephul.
“[Wadephul] put out his notes and read out a text that fully reiterates what Germany conveys through its leaders every day, publicly and officially,” Lavrov said after the meeting took place. “I pointed that out to him there was nothing new for me to hear. I frankly told him I thought he had something interesting and unusual to say. They could have made it a telephone conversation and just told us to read their official statements.”
Before the meeting with Lavrov, Wadephul had called Trump’s invite for Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 meeting in Miami in December an “opportunity,” opening up questions about whether Germany was shifting its diplomatic stance on Russia.
Wadephul later said he had sought the meeting to tell Lavrov that Germany was prepared to defend itself after explosive-laden drones were spotted at a German airport — an incident Berlin blamed on Moscow. Wadephul also said he wanted to discuss growing concerns about a global food crisis as efforts continue to revive a grain deal between Russia and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Merz reiterated the German government’s longstanding demands of the Kremlin: that Russia stop its invasion, that Europeans have a seat at the table in any negotiations on terms for 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,” Merz said. “There will be a price to pay if Russia continues this war.”