US Cancels G20 Group Photo After European Delegations Refuse to Stand With Lavrov

The official G20 family photo scheduled for Friday morning in Atlanta has been cancelled. The decision followed a refusal by European diplomats to pose alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Two officials confirmed the change of plans to the BBC.

The meeting is hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It brings together top diplomats from the world’s largest economies. The group photo traditionally includes representatives from all attending nations. The cancellation leaves a gap in the standard ceremonial schedule for the summit.

Tensions between Ukraine and the United States have risen this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump are in a diplomatic standoff over Kyiv’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukraine is not a G20 member but has attended similar gatherings in recent years. It was not invited to this specific meeting.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is present in Atlanta. A diplomatic source confirmed the UK was among the nations that declined to participate in the picture. One British official explained the stance. "The UK has a longstanding policy not to have direct, bilateral engagement with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine and we are not about to change that", the official said.

A US official stated the photo was cancelled "after it became clear some of the delegations were unwilling to participate in a joint photo". The official added that the hosts wanted to avoid a ceremonial distraction. "Rather than allow a ceremonial photo opportunity to become a diplomatic distraction, the US decided to forgo the photo and keep the focus on the substantive discussions", the official said.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have shown signs of warming in recent weeks. Trump waived some sanctions and agreed to import Russian diesel for the American market. The move aims to lower US fuel prices ahead of mid-term elections in November. Zelensky criticized the deal, calling it "a gift" to Putin that amounts to "an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged".

Trump said suspending Russian sanctions is an effort to keep Moscow at the negotiating table. Putin stated Russia is willing to supply the US and global markets with oil and petroleum products. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Recent weeks have seen an intensification of deadly missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities by Russia. The G20 summit continues in Atlanta with substantive discussions on the agenda. The group photo was the first major ceremonial item removed from the schedule.