Madar (International) - The United States has scrapped the traditional group photo of G20 foreign ministers after European officials refused to be pictured alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Al Jazeera English reported on Friday, October 30, 2026, citing AFP and DPA.
The ministers are meeting in Atlanta, in the southern United States, for talks overshadowed by the wars in Ukraine and Iran. "There will be no family photo featuring our European partners together with Mr Lavrov," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, according to DPA.
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, and Moscow said he would use his speech to argue against international sanctions. A diplomatic source told AFP that Russia's presence "in no way legitimises its actions".
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pledged to urge G20 partners to strengthen support for Ukraine, after a Russian strike on a Ukrainian railway station killed at least 14 people on Thursday. Opening the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged members to cooperate on crises threatening global trade, energy and food supplies, and freedom of navigation.
No joint statement is expected. Washington will instead publish a chair's summary, according to the diplomatic source, who said the G20 "is no longer really a forum where foreign ministers can reach agreement on a statement".
China sent Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi. South Africa, a founding member, has been excluded by Washington, and the African Union is represented by Burundi's Edouard Bizimana. The Atlanta meeting is the last ministerial gathering of the US presidency before leaders meet in Miami on December 14 and 15.
