US cancels G20 group photo after objections to appearing with Lavrov

US hosts cancelled the G20 foreign ministers’ group photograph in Atlanta on Oct. 30 after European delegations objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. A US official said the photograph was dropped because some delegations would not take part, while Britain confirmed it was among those refusing.¹³

Objections extend beyond Europe

According to Reuters, Australia and Canada were among the roughly one in three participants who objected to posing for a picture alongside Lavrov. European officials had suggested taking two pictures, one including the Russian minister and another without him. The US State Department instead removed the photograph from the programme, according to the agency.⁵

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made the European position explicit. “Our European partners will certainly not pose alongside Mr. Lavrov,” he said, according to The Kyiv Independent. His remarks addressed the proposed photograph rather than Russian attendance at the meeting itself.²

A US official told the BBC that the hosts wanted to prevent the ceremonial event from diverting attention from the discussions. Explaining the UK’s stance, a British official said London had barred direct one-to-one engagement with Russia’s ministers after the war in Ukraine began and would continue to follow that policy.¹

A meeting divided over Russia

The Atlanta ministerial meeting runs from Oct. 30 to 31 and is hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to The Kyiv Independent. The outlet reported that it precedes a December gathering of G20 leaders in Miami. Ukraine, which is not a G20 member, was not invited to Atlanta.²

Lavrov headed Russia’s delegation. According to The Kyiv Independent, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the delegation’s purpose as advancing Russian proposals for a multipolar international order. Associated Press reported that the photograph dispute reflected wider differences over Russia’s place in the G20 and complicated efforts to agree on global security questions.²³

Differences over Washington’s approach

The disagreement came alongside European criticism of US policy towards Moscow. The BBC and The Kyiv Independent reported that President Donald Trump had waived some Russian sanctions and agreed to purchase Russian diesel. The Kyiv Independent said European capitals had urged Washington to increase pressure on Russia rather than accommodate it.¹²

Trump said the suspension of sanctions was intended to keep Moscow involved in negotiations, the BBC reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the diesel agreement, calling it “an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged”. Russia said it was prepared to supply oil and petroleum products to the United States and other markets.¹