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A Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta began on Friday with European diplomats refusing to take part in a traditional family photo alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ultimately scrapped the photograph before the event started to prevent it from becoming a distraction.
Diplomatic Divisions and the G20 Schedule
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated before the opening session that European partners would not pose for a photo with Lavrov because normalization with Russia does not exist. The two-day G20 gathering includes the European Union, Russia, Germany, India, China, Brazil, and other major nations, serving as a precursor to a leaders’ summit scheduled for this December.
US President Donald Trump is set to host the December leaders’ meeting at his golf club in Miami. Despite regional fractures, Rubio opened the current talks by emphasizing unity during a critical moment marked by interconnected economic and geopolitical crises. He highlighted disruptions to global trade and energy, noting severe threats to the global economic order.
Wars in Ukraine and Iran have driven up global food prices, and finding common ground on issues like freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea remains a challenge. There was heightened interest in Russia’s stance on potential peace talks with Kyiv given renewed momentum to end the war.
Reactions to Lavrov and Russia’s Stance
While the US invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, it remains unconfirmed if Moscow has accepted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to traveling to Miami if Putin attends. Meanwhile, Lavrov told Deutsche Welle on the sidelines of the meeting that Putin is willing to meet Zelenskyy only if the Ukrainian leader travels to Moscow, adding that Russia would guarantee his safety.
Lavrov did not confirm whether Putin will attend the December G20 summit, an event the Russian leader has skipped in person since 2019. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reported that ministers confronted Lavrov directly during the meetings. Kallas stated that officials addressed Ukraine and challenged what she described as false narratives and lies put forward by the Russian minister. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also urged officials to work harder for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine to uphold shared values and interests.
Despite recent US moves, including a diesel deal announced by Trump and waived energy sanctions ahead of upcoming midterm elections, Lavrov stated that no real progress in relations with the United States has materialized in practice.
Exclusions and South Africa’s Absence
South Africa, a founding member of the G20 and its sole African member, was excluded from the US-hosted meeting following visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration over allegations of discrimination against white people. Phindile Kunene, spokesperson for South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, emphasized that the country’s nonparticipation was involuntary. Ukraine, a regular guest at past meetings, was also left off the invite list because US officials chose to restrict attendance strictly to formal members.
With numerous contentious issues dividing participants, a unanimous joint consensus at the conclusion of the talks appears unlikely. According to the AFP news agency, the meeting is instead expected to conclude on Saturday with a summary drafted by the US chair.
