German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday to abandon what Berlin described as a “dangerous path of escalation” toward Germany, Europe and the NATO alliance.

Lavrov later dismissed the appeal, accusing Germany of supporting Ukraine and seeking a larger military role in Europe. He also questioned whether Berlin understood where its current policy could lead.

The exchange took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as relations between Moscow and Berlin have deteriorated further following a disputed drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport and a series of diplomatic measures by both governments.

First foreign-minister talks since 2022

Wadephul requested the meeting with Lavrov, according to German and Russian officials.

The talks covered bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine. A German delegation source said Wadephul also urged Moscow to do everything possible to reach an agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea, where Russian and Ukrainian attacks on ports and vessels have disrupted commercial traffic.

Wadephul told Lavrov that a practical agreement on the Black Sea could create an opening for further steps.

He also pressed Russia to end what Germany describes as escalating activity directed at Germany, Europe and NATO. German officials said incidents such as the Leipzig episode would not change Berlin’s support for Ukraine.

The meeting was the first between the Russian and German foreign ministers since before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Their encounter did not produce a publicly announced breakthrough.

Lavrov later characterized the discussion as a repetition of Germany’s existing public position rather than a new diplomatic approach.

Leipzig drone dispute adds to tensions

The latest deterioration in relations follows an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August.

The German government said in September that its investigation had concluded Russia was responsible. Berlin subsequently announced measures including the closure of Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the termination of an agreement governing the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin.

Russia has rejected the accusation.

The Russian Embassy in Berlin described the German allegations as fabricated and said Moscow had not been presented with evidence supporting Berlin’s attribution of the incident. Russia also warned that Germany’s measures would have consequences for bilateral relations.

The responsibility for the Leipzig incident therefore remains contested between the two governments. Germany has publicly attributed it to Russia, while Moscow denies involvement.

Lavrov accuses Berlin of militarization

Lavrov used his address to the U.N. General Assembly after the meeting to criticize Germany’s security policy.

He accused Berlin of becoming Ukraine’s principal sponsor and said Germany was seeking to establish itself as a leading military power in Europe.

Lavrov also invoked the history of World War II while questioning the consequences of Germany’s current approach to Russia.

The remarks continued a line of criticism Lavrov had used earlier in September.

After Germany publicly attributed the Leipzig incident to Russia, Lavrov called the accusations baseless and said Berlin’s approach amounted to the beginning of what he described as a “real war” with the West. Russia has maintained that the German accusations were intended to justify further pressure on Moscow.

Germany has rejected that characterization and says its measures are responses to what it considers Russian hybrid activity and threats to European security.

Berlin says support for Ukraine will continue

Wadephul has made clear that Germany does not intend to reduce its support for Ukraine as part of efforts to improve European security.

In a September 23 address to the U.N. Security Council, he called for an immediate ceasefire beginning in the Black Sea, a comprehensive prisoner exchange and a return to negotiations based on international law.

Germany has also said it is strengthening its own defense capabilities and coordinating with NATO and the European Union.

Before traveling to New York for the General Assembly, Wadephul said Germany wanted to work with partners to protect critical infrastructure and respond to threats involving undersea cables, hybrid attacks and Russia’s shadow fleet.

Those policies place Berlin directly at odds with Moscow’s characterization of European support for Ukraine.

No immediate diplomatic breakthrough

The New York meeting restored a direct channel between the two foreign ministries, but the public statements afterward showed how far apart the two governments remain.

Germany is pressing Russia for de-escalation, a reduction in attacks affecting European security and renewed negotiations over Ukraine. Russia continues to reject Germany’s accusations and portrays Berlin’s military and political support for Kyiv as part of a broader European confrontation with Moscow.

The disagreement extends beyond Ukraine.

Lavrov said Russia would oppose efforts by Germany and Japan to obtain permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, arguing that both countries’ positions conflicted with Russia’s view of the international order.

The two foreign ministers’ meeting therefore produced contact without resolving the central disputes between their governments.

For Berlin, the immediate objective is to prevent further escalation while maintaining support for Ukraine and strengthening European security.

For Moscow, the same policies are evidence that Germany is becoming more directly involved in the confrontation surrounding the war.

The diplomatic channel has reopened at the ministerial level, but the positions expressed afterward indicate that the fundamental disagreement remains unresolved.

Reporting Credit: German Federal Foreign Office — statements and policy positions from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul concerning Russia, Ukraine, European security and the Leipzig incident; Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Russian position on relations with Germany, Ukraine and European security; United Nations — General Assembly and Security Council proceedings and official records; United Nations Web TV — Lavrov’s September 26 press conference.

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July 28, 2025 – 18:30 EDT

Russia has launched a monthly commercial flight route connecting Moscow and Pyongyang, marking a significant development in the growing relationship between the two countries. The move comes as both nations deepen economic, political, and military ties amid global tensions and international sanctions.

Moscow-Pyongyang route opens with first Nordwind Airlines flight

The inaugural flight on this new route departed Sunday from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, operated by the Russian airline Nordwind. The flight carried over 400 passengers and marks the first direct commercial connection between the Russian capital and North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, in decades.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Transport, this new air link will operate once a month to accommodate demand. The announcement did not include plans to increase frequency, but officials indicated that the service may expand depending on interest.

Russian tourism push to North Korea’s Wonsan resort

The launch of the new route follows a visit earlier this month by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, a flagship tourism development project led by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Lavrov met with Kim during the visit and pledged to promote Russian tourism to the resort, which is designed to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors. Located on North Korea’s eastern coastline, the Wonsan-Kalma project has been under development since 2013 and is part of Kim’s long-term strategy to boost tourism revenue and diversify the country’s heavily sanctioned economy.

North Korean authorities have promoted the resort as a symbol of modern luxury and a safe destination for international travelers. However, despite some easing of pandemic-era restrictions, North Korea has yet to fully reopen to international tourism. The country still maintains tight controls on travel and has not publicly confirmed a timeline for welcoming foreign tourists on a large scale.

Gradual reopening of North Korea’s borders

This latest flight between Moscow and Pyongyang is part of North Korea’s cautious post-pandemic reopening strategy. The country sealed its borders in early 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintained strict entry restrictions for years.

While diplomatic visits and limited cargo trade have resumed, international travel into North Korea remains highly restricted. Flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang, which had been suspended during the pandemic, were reinstated in 2023, primarily for government personnel, aid deliveries, and tightly controlled delegations.

Analysts suggest that the new monthly route from Moscow could serve both symbolic and practical purposes, helping to normalize ties and increase engagement at a time when North Korea faces widespread international isolation.

Russia and North Korea strengthen bilateral ties

The flight service highlights a broader trend of strengthening political, economic, and military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Over the past two years, the two countries have expanded their relationship significantly, driven in part by mutual opposition to Western sanctions and increasing geopolitical alignment. Western governments have accused North Korea of supplying weapons and military personnel to support Russia’s war in Ukraine — a claim both Moscow and Pyongyang deny, but which has been supported by satellite imagery and intercepted communications, according to U.S. intelligence sources.

Recent reports from U.S. and South Korean officials suggest that North Korean arms have been used on the frontlines in Ukraine, including artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles.

Moscow, in turn, has provided diplomatic cover and economic support for Pyongyang at the United Nations, frequently vetoing or blocking U.S.-led resolutions against North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs. Russia has also reportedly offered food and energy aid to help North Korea deal with ongoing shortages exacerbated by sanctions and trade limitations.

Strategic implications and international response

The renewed air link between the two capitals is likely to draw scrutiny from the United States, South Korea, and Japan, all of whom have expressed concern over increasing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

A State Department spokesperson in Washington told reporters on Monday that the U.S. is “closely monitoring developments between Russia and North Korea” and views increased coordination as a potential threat to regional stability.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification issued a statement condemning “any measures that seek to normalize or embolden North Korea’s militarized regime under the guise of economic development or tourism.”

Despite such warnings, both Russia and North Korea appear committed to continuing their partnership. Analysts say the deepening alliance may offer each country strategic advantages: Russia gains access to additional military resources and diplomatic support, while North Korea benefits from trade, aid, and legitimacy on the international stage.

Outlook: Will more routes follow?

While the new Moscow–Pyongyang route is currently limited to once a month, the success of the flights could open the door to additional air links or increased frequency.

As of now, Nordwind Airlines has not confirmed future plans to add more destinations, but the flight marks a rare example of commercial connectivity for a country that remains among the most isolated in the world.

Observers will be watching closely to see whether this route marks a turning point in North Korea’s economic outreach, or simply a political gesture amid deepening ties with Russia.

Source: CNN – Russia starts direct commercial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang

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