World

European Ministers Refuse to Join Group Photo with Russian Foreign Minister at G20

By Al Jazeera Staff

The United States has cancelled the customary group photograph of foreign ministers at the G20 meeting in Atlanta because European officials declined to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The decision highlights deep divisions within the Group of 20, whose ministers are gathering in the southern U.S. city amid the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and Iran. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, according to the dpa news agency, “There will be no family photo featuring our European partners together with Mr Lavrov.” Lavrov, who remains under Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, arrived in Atlanta ahead of the talks, Russian state media reported. Moscow said on Thursday that he would use his speech to argue against international sanctions. Ukraine was not invited, the Abu Dhabi‑based newspaper The National reported. A diplomatic source told AFP that Russia’s presence at the G20 “in no way legitimises its actions.” The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pledged on Thursday to urge G20 partners to strengthen support for Ukraine and pursue accountability through a special tribunal and claims commission, after a Russian strike on a Ukrainian railway station killed at least 14 people earlier that day. The meeting also comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump issued sanctions waivers allowing Russia to export diesel to ease fuel prices before the November 3 midterm elections. Opening the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged members to cooperate on economic and geopolitical crises threatening global trade, energy and food supplies, and freedom of navigation, dpa reported. Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after U.S.–Israeli strikes began in late February, and global energy prices have risen sharply since. “Both maritime and food security drive economic security,” Rubio wrote on X. No joint statement is expected. A diplomatic source told AFP that Washington will instead publish a chair’s summary it has drafted. The source added: “The G20 is no longer really a forum where foreign ministers can reach agreement on a statement.” No government has said whether Rubio and Lavrov will hold a formal bilateral meeting. China sent Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a delegation list released by the Department of State. South Africa, a founding G20 member, has been excluded by Washington, and the African Union is represented by Burundi’s Edouard Bizimana. The Atlanta talks are the last ministerial meeting of the U.S. G20 presidency before leaders meet in Miami on December 14 and 15.