Wadephul defends handshake with Lavrov amid Ukraine war

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul defended shaking hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stating that civilization is not abandoned when engaging with those holding different values. He also warned that Russia likely has plans beyond the war in Ukraine. Wadephul cited Putin's past description of the Soviet Union's collapse as a major catastrophe, suggesting he may seek to reverse it, potentially affecting Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and the Baltics. He confirmed raising drone incidents in Leipzig with Lavrov, calling them a new quality of threat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for a trilateral meeting in October, organized by the US, to resume peace talks. He urged Russia to prioritize diplomacy, while a Russian glide bomb attack on Kharkiv killed at least three people and injured 29 others.