G20 drops group photo as Europeans refuse to stand with Lavrov

What the report says

The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, has highlighted sharp divisions among major powers after the United States canceled a planned group photo because several European officials did not want to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to Al Jazeera, the diplomatic dispute underscored how the forum remains split over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the wider instability linked to the Iran conflict.

Lavrov attended the talks despite Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The article says Moscow planned to use his remarks to oppose international sanctions, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would press partners to increase support for Ukraine and pursue accountability measures. Ukraine was not invited to the meeting, which also followed a Russian strike on a railway station in Ukraine that killed at least 14 people, according to the report.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened the session by calling for cooperation on crises affecting trade, energy, food supplies and freedom of navigation. Al Jazeera reported that no joint statement is expected and that Washington instead plans to issue a chair’s summary. A diplomatic source told AFP that the G20 is no longer a setting where ministers can easily agree on a common statement.

The Atlanta gathering is the last ministerial meeting under the US G20 presidency before leaders are due to meet in Miami in December.