European envoys refuse joint photo with Sergei Lavrov; U.S. cancels G20 group picture
At the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta, several European delegations refused to pose with Russia's foreign minister, leading the U.S. to cancel the traditional group photo.
A diplomatic standoff marked the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta after several European delegations refused to be photographed alongside Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. Because of those objections, the United States cancelled the traditional group photo of participants.
Disagreement over a single image
Lavrov’s presence at the meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio triggered objections from European diplomats who said they did not want a joint picture that could be read as signalling a return to normal relations with Moscow while the Russian war in Ukraine continues.
Diplomatic sources said roughly one third of the meeting’s participants — including delegations from Australia and Canada — opposed being photographed with the Russian minister. Organisers considered taking two separate photographs, one that would include Lavrov and another without him, but the U.S. side ultimately decided to cancel the traditional group photo altogether.
German Foreign Minister Johan Vadeful put the stance plainly: "Under no circumstances will there be a joint photograph with the European partners and Mr Lavrov, because there is no normality with Russia," he said.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband directly addressed Lavrov during the meeting, saying: "We all know who the aggressor in this war is," and accusing the Russian government of killing innocent civilians. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also confirmed he did not want to be photographed with Lavrov, noting he was not the only one who felt that way.
The Atlanta meeting took place against a backdrop of deep disagreements between Western allies and Moscow over the war in Ukraine, and amid differing approaches among European governments and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump toward Russia. Opening the meeting, Secretary Rubio called for cooperation in the face of intertwined geopolitical and economic crises and highlighted challenges for global security, trade and energy markets.
The cancellation of the group photograph — a routine element of international gatherings — emerged as one of the meeting’s most striking moments and underscored persistent diplomatic divisions over Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Photo: press material from the event
