G20 scraps family photo over Lavrov's presence at Atlanta foreign ministers' meeting

The photo that was dropped

The United States cancelled the customary family photo of G20 foreign ministers that was planned for the morning of Friday, 30 October 2026, at the start of the meeting in Atlanta. Two officials confirmed the cancellation to the BBC. Several European delegations had refused to stand for a picture with Lavrov, who was in Atlanta at US invitation and was inside the meeting hall at a large hotel in the city. Before the final decision, European officials had left open the option of two separate photos, one with Lavrov and one without him. Two US officials told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who chairs the meeting, judged that a public row over Lavrov's presence would overshadow the talks. One US official said Washington wanted to avoid turning a ritual into a diplomatic distraction, and the meeting itself goes ahead as scheduled.

Positions of Europe and allies

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters shortly before the opening session that European partners would not take a joint photo with Lavrov because there is no normality in relations with Russia. He added that disagreements with Moscow must be raised and discussed at the negotiating table, and that the need for dialogue does not mean a return to normal ties. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski backed the US decision and said he was not the only one who did not want to be photographed with Lavrov. A British official said the United Kingdom has a standing policy of no direct bilateral contact with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine, and that London was among the countries that declined to take part in the picture. A Western diplomat cited by Greek and Italian-language reports said one third of participants, including Australia and Canada, made clear they opposed standing beside Lavrov.

Ukraine, Russia and the diesel deal

Ukraine is not a G20 member and, according to the reports, was not invited this time, although it had received invitations to similar meetings in recent years. Relations between Kyiv and Washington are strained this month after friction between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Meanwhile Trump has lifted some sanctions on Russia and agreed a deal to import Russian diesel into the US market, a step tied to his effort to lower US fuel prices before the midterm elections in early November. Russia's delegation faced visa problems that were resolved at the last minute. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the difficulties showed that not everyone in Washington viewed Lavrov's presence favourably. Ian Kelly, a former US ambassador to Georgia, said the invitation could provoke reactions inside the United States given Republican lawmakers' discontent with Trump's conciliatory stance toward Vladimir Putin.

Agenda and the December summit

The ministers face disputes over the Russia-Ukraine war, the war by the United States and Israel against Iran, US tariffs and China's moves in the South China Sea. These have pushed up global fuel costs and added uncertainty to trade. US officials said Washington wants to narrow disagreements over freedom of navigation, with particular focus on the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Black Sea and the South China Sea. In the opening session Rubio stressed the need for cooperation to protect the global economic order, citing pressure on energy supplies, food markets, supply chains and trade. The talks are meant to prepare the ground for the leaders' summit that Trump will host in December at his golf club in Miami. According to the Associated Press, US officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for possible new strikes on Iran, a prospect that overshadows the meeting, including in Saudi Arabia, a G20 member.