G20 Atlanta: Europe Refuses to Stand with Lavrov as Group Photo Cancelled

The United States cancelled the traditional group photograph of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta after European ministers refused to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said European partners would not be photographed with Lavrov. Lavrov is subject to Western sanctions imposed following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow announced he will use his remarks to the forum to argue against international sanctions imposed on Russia.

A diplomatic source told France Presse that Russia's presence in the G20 "does not legitimize its actions." European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas briefed her partners on Thursday of her intention to push them toward strengthening support for Ukraine and holding Russia accountable through a special tribunal and a reparations body, following a Russian strike that killed at least 14 people at a Ukrainian railway station earlier the same day.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened the meeting calling on members to cooperate in confronting economic and geopolitical crises threatening global trade, energy supplies, food security, and freedom of navigation, citing tensions in the Middle East region. Rubio wrote on platform X: "Maritime and food security together form the foundation of economic security."

No joint statement will be issued from the meeting; a diplomatic source told France Presse that Washington will release a presidency summary prepared by itself, adding that the G20 "is no longer a forum where foreign ministers can reach consensus on a statement." South Africa, a founding member of the group, was absent after Washington excluded it, while Burundi represented the African Union through Édouard Bizimana. China sent Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu instead of Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

A summit of G20 leaders will be held in Miami on December 14 and 15, the final ministerial meeting under the U.S. presidency of the group.