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World 28 September 2026 7 views on YouTube

Russia to Germany at the UN: "Did World War Two Teach Them Nothing?"

At the UN, Russia's foreign minister asked Berlin whether it had learned anything from World War Two. Just before, the two sides had held their first talks since 2022.

On 26 September, at the UN General Assembly, Sergey Lavrov answered Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who wants Germany to build the strongest conventional army in Europe: "Does Berlin understand where this could lead? Did the Second World War teach them nothing?" (in Russian; our translation from the floor audio). Just before the speech, Lavrov had met Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul for about twenty minutes, at Germany's request, their first talks since Russia invaded Ukraine. Lavrov said afterwards that nothing new came of it. Later that day, from the same podium, Wadephul said Russia's war "targets the lives of millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture, and the European peace order," and that Germany will keep urging Russia to "finally come to the negotiation table."

Both men heard in their own voices, from the UN's own record.

Russia to Germany at the UN: "Did World War Two Teach Them Nothing?" — The reel as published on RECORDx NEWS · 0m 58s

Facts

Wadephul's quotes are his own voice in English (Pd9pwQqCQSg, 434.35–443.62 and 460.50–466.15).
The meeting: Saturday 26 Sep, on the sidelines, just before Lavrov's speech (Bloomberg; PBS/AP "followed by Lavrov's address"); requested by Wadephul (AP; Russian officials per dpa); just over 20 minutes, first talks since the 2022 invasion (dpa). Wadephul urged Russia to leave its "dangerous path of escalation" (German delegation official, AP).
Lavrov afterwards, at a news conference (AP): "He simply reiterated his official public position condemning Russia." / "Nothing new came from that initiative of the foreign minister."
Wadephul spoke later the same day (not in the morning speakers list; UN upload 19:32 UTC vs Lavrov 16:42 UTC).

References

(UN — Russian Federation, Foreign Minister, General Debate 81st Session, 26 Sep 2026)
(UN — Germany, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, General Debate 81st Session, 26 Sep 2026)

How this was verified — the rest of the fact sheet

The reporting

Translation is ours, from the Russian transcript, cross-checked against the UN interpretation and AP. Band: "Does Berlin understand… where it could lead? Did World War Two teach them nothing?" (ellipsis = the elided "what this 'again' means").
Merz's words: "the strongest conventional army in Europe" (Bundestag, May 2025). "Main/leading military power" is LAVROV's framing — never Merz's quote.
Meeting: 26 Sep, sidelines, just before Lavrov's speech; Germany requested it; ~20 min; first since the 2022 invasion. Sources: AP (PBS/WSLS), dpa (Yahoo), Bloomberg.
"Nothing new" is Lavrov at his news conference, as REPORTED by AP. Not on our tape.
Wadephul spoke later the same day, English, own voice, UN Pd9pwQqCQSg.
No footage of the meeting exists in our sources — drawn card only.

Footage

Every clip in the reel, and where it came from.

the line source (tier, id/url)
«Понимают ли в Берлине, что означает это вновь? Понимают ли, к чему это может привести? Разве итоги Второй мировой войны ничему не научили?» → "Does Berlin understand what this 'again' means? Do they understand where it could lead? Has the Second World War taught them nothing?" tier 1, UN `MTtO-YXn0Co` `[ru]` floor
"Russia's war targets the lives of millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture, and the European peace order." tier 1, UN `Pd9pwQqCQSg`
"This is why we will continue to urge Russia to finally come to the negotiation table." tier 1, UN `Pd9pwQqCQSg`
the beat what must be ON SCREEN
cold open: Russia asks Berlin about WW2 (VO, muted bed) Lavrov MCU at the GA podium, green marble
"has the Second World War taught them nothing?" (his voice, Russian) Lavrov MCU, same podium
the meeting: first talks since 2022, Germany asked, ~20 min, "nothing new" drawn card — no footage of the meeting exists in the public record we hold
later that day, same podium: Germany's answer (VO, muted bed) Wadephul MCU at the GA podium
"Russia's war targets the lives of millions…" (his voice) Wadephul MCU
"continue to urge Russia… to the negotiation table" (his voice) Wadephul MCU

References

Reporting drawn from United Nations (General Assembly general debate · 26 Sep 2026) · AP (via PBS) · dpa · Bloomberg · Al Jazeera · REQUIRED

What the reel says

Narration as scripted and voiced.

At the UN on Saturday, Russia's foreign minister asked Berlin whether it had learned anything from World War II. Sergey Lavrov was answering Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who wants Germany to build the strongest conventional army in Europe.

Just before that speech, the two men had met for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. Germany asked for the talks. Lavrov said nothing new came of them.

Later that day, at the same podium, Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, answered.

Russia's war targets the lives of millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture, and the European peace order.

This is why we will continue to urge Russia to finally come to the negotiation table.

The talks are over, and the question still sits between Berlin and Moscow.

russia germany un general assembly unga 2026 ukraine war