G20 drops group photo as Europeans refuse to stand with Lavrov

In practice, the United States has scrapped a traditional group photo of foreign ministers after European authorities refused to be pictured alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Key points

• China sent Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a delegation list published by the Department of State.
• Lavrov, who remains under Western sanctions imposed after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, arrived in Atlanta ahead of the discussions, Russian state media noted.
• The Atlanta discussions are the last ministerial gathering of the US G20 presidency before leaders meet in Miami on December 14 and 15.
• "There will be no family photo featuring our European partners together with Mr Lavrov, " German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul remarked, according to the dpa news agency.
• Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes began in late February, and global energy rates have risen sharply since.

For context, the move exposes deep rifts at the heart of the Group of 20 (G20), whose foreign ministers are session in the southern city of Atlanta in the United States for negotiations overshadowed by the wars in Ukraine and Iran.

Lavrov, who remains under Western sanctions imposed after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, arrived in Atlanta ahead of the discussions, Russian state media noted. Moscow remarked on Thursday that he would apply his speech to argue against international sanctions. Ukraine was not invited, the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National documented.

For context, a diplomatic source informed the AFP news agency that Russia's presence at the G20 "in no way legitimises its actions".

After a Russian strike on a Ukrainian railway station killed at least 14 residents earlier that day, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pledged on Thursday to urge G20 partners to strengthen backing for Ukraine and pursue accountability through a special tribunal and claims commission.

For context, the session additionally comes weeks after US President Donald Trump issued sanctions waivers allowing Russia to export diesel to ease fuel rates before the November 3 midterm elections.

Opening the discussions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on members to cooperate on economic and geopolitical crises threatening global trade, energy and food supplies, and freedom of navigation, dpa documented. Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes began in late February, and global energy rates have risen sharply since.

"Both maritime and food security drive economic security, " Rubio wrote on X.

No joint statement is projected. A diplomatic source informed the AFP news agency that Washington will instead publish a chair's summary it has drafted. The source continued: "The G20 is no longer really a forum where foreign ministers can reach agreement on a statement."

No administration has stated whether Rubio and Lavrov will hold a formal bilateral session.

China sent Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a delegation list published 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.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta discussions are the last ministerial gathering of the US G20 presidency before leaders meet in Miami on December 14 and 15.

In short, G20 drops group photo as Europeans refuse to stand with Lavrov is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.