Dhe German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is making her first visit to Moscow with concentrated reservations. Her encounter with veteran Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ends with the same strained politeness it began three hours earlier. Possibly the mood after the conversation is even a little frostier, even if both make verbal opening moves during their joint public appearance that refer to closeness and common ground. Lavrov praises the rising trade balance between Russia and Germany (and fails to mention that this is happening despite the existing sanctions), Baerbock has positive figures on cultural and scientific exchange ready: 14,000 Russian students are currently enrolled at German universities, a record ; more than 1000 scientific cooperation agreements existed, more than 360,000 Russians learned German, that is “more than anywhere else in the world”. Cooperation in the fight against climate change, such as the promotion of hydrogen technology, is also on the speaking notes of both ministers.
But then the differences come: You have a “thick meeting folder” with you, says Baerbock, because there are “a whole series of major, sometimes fundamental, differences of opinion”. And Lavrov replies that he has declared his willingness to work “with the new federal government” because “there are enough problems”. It begins with the security guarantees that Russia requested in writing from America and NATO at the end of last year in the form of draft treaties; “Now we are waiting for an answer”. Lavrov then addresses the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in which the West is making an “ineffective attempt” to see Russia as a partner in the conflict. More detailed allegations follow later about the Bundeswehr presence in Lithuania and American exercises in the east of NATO territory.