Germany calls on Russia to 'abandon its dangerous path' - National Post

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Moscow to "abandon its dangerous path of escalation" during a meeting with Russia's Sergei Lavrov at the UN on Saturday. He is pictured here during an Ottawa press conference. Photo by Blair Gable /Photo by Blair Gable / PostmediaArticle contentGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Moscow to “abandon its dangerous path of escalation” during a meeting with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov at the UN on Saturday, a diplomat for Berlin said.

The talks took place as tensions between Berlin and Moscow intensified in recent weeks, with Germany accusing Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport and each country ordering the closure of the other’s consulate.

“Wadephul called on the Russian Federation to abandon its dangerous path of escalation vis-a-vis Germany, Europe, and NATO,” the German diplomat said.

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“He made it clear: incidents such as the recent attempted attack in Leipzig or further hybrid assaults would not shake Germany’s resolve to support Ukraine, which has come under attack.”

It was the first such meeting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.

Lavrov, who was to address the UN’s gathering of world leaders in New York Saturday, last met with a German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, in January 2022, less than a month before Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Germany is one of Kyiv’s main allies, and relations between Moscow and Berlin — already tense before the Ukraine invasion — have deteriorated in recent days.

Lavrov — Russia’s longest-serving minister — recently accused Germany of “wanting war again,” and is one of Russia’s most vocally anti-western officials.

European countries, including Germany, have sounded the alarm in recent days over what they say is increased Russian sabotage activities on their soil.

Direct flights between Russia and Germany have been suspended since the invasion.