German Foreign Minister Wadephul said Russia must end its war in Ukraine and attacks against Germany and its allies for relations with Russia to be restored to a reasonable footing.
Wadephul made the remarks at a joint news conference in Weimar with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The conference was held after the three ministers met.
Addressing Russia’s announcement that it would close Goethe-Institut branches in the country, Wadephul said he regretted the decision. The minister said the institute served as a cultural bridge in Russia and that Germany was ready to continue this role.
Wadephul argued that fundamentally good and friendly relations had always existed between the people of Russia and Germany. The German foreign minister said the problem was Russia’s leadership.
Condition for dialogue with Moscow
Wadephul said Germany had always acted realistically in its relations with Russia and noted that they were ready to establish reasonable dialogue with Moscow.
He said Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine and stop all attacks against Germany and its allies for this dialogue to be established.
Wadephul said many European countries, particularly those in Eastern Europe, faced the continual violation of their sovereignty by Russia. He described ending this situation as a prerequisite for establishing normal and reasonable relations.
The Weimar Triangle’s security agenda
Wadephul said close cooperation had been carried out within the Weimar Triangle since 2024 against hybrid threats and various attacks in Europe. He said the incident at Leipzig-Halle Airport showed Germans that Russia’s aggression was not confined to its borders.
The German foreign minister thanked European countries for showing solidarity with Germany.
The drone incident at Leipzig-Halle
On August 4, a drone believed to contain an explosive device was found at Leipzig-Halle Airport in Germany near a Ukrainian transport aircraft.
U.S. intelligence claimed that the characteristics of the drone, which was said to be carrying explosives, were specific to Russian military intelligence.
Germany announced that it held Russia responsible for the incident. The government in Berlin also took measures including closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn as of September 18 and terminating the contract concerning the Russian House in Berlin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in response to Germany’s decisions that Goethe-Institut branches in Russia would be closed.
