G20 'family photo' cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister

What the report says

European diplomats declined to pose for an official G20 “family photo” with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, prompting the US hosts to cancel the planned image. The BBC reported that two officials confirmed the cancellation, which had been scheduled for Friday morning and would normally include all delegations present.

The meeting is being hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband among those in attendance. A UK official said London would not take part in direct bilateral engagement with Russian ministers because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The BBC also reported that a diplomatic source said the UK was among the countries refusing to join the photo.

A US official said the picture was dropped after it became clear several delegations would not participate, adding that Washington did not want a ceremonial moment to distract from the talks. The event comes amid strained relations between Ukraine and the US, as well as ongoing European criticism of recent US moves involving Russia.

The episode highlights how diplomatic protocol at major international gatherings can become entangled with the war in Ukraine. More broadly, G20 meetings often bring together countries with sharply differing views on Russia’s role in the conflict, even when formal cooperation continues on other issues.