Global South countries asked Germany to meet Lavrov over hunger risks

Countries of the Global South asked Germany to hold talks with Russia amid concerns over worsening food security and the risk of hunger. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said several of his counterparts had urged Berlin to engage directly with the Russian side because of risks to food supplies.

Wadephul cited these concerns as one of the reasons for meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The German minister called for a ceasefire in the Black Sea that could help ensure safer shipping and stabilize grain exports to the global market.

Wadephul also raised the issue of food supplies during the UN General Assembly. He stressed that disruptions to Black Sea exports create additional risks for countries that are heavily dependent on grain imports, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The situation is further complicated by high food prices, weather-related risks and unstable international logistics. Against this backdrop, the safe operation of Black Sea trade routes remains important for maintaining stable grain supplies to the global market.

Ukraine and Russia remain major grain suppliers to the global market, including to countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prolonged disruptions to exports through the Black Sea could reduce available supply, increase logistics costs and intensify price pressure in food-import-dependent countries.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Sergei Lavrov on September 26, 2026, in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes and was the first bilateral meeting between the German and Russian foreign ministers since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, Black Sea region, Germany, Black Sea grain corridor