‘No normalcy with Russia’: G-20 foreign ministers skip photo-op over Lavrov’s presence
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) attending the G-20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct 30. European G-20 members are supporting Ukraine as it fights off a Russian invasion.
PHOTO: AFP
- G-20 foreign ministers in Atlanta skipped the usual group photo after European objections to Russia’s presence, with Sergei Lavrov attending the meeting.
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no photo with Lavrov and European partners together because “there is no normalcy with Russia.”
- European G-20 members backed Ukraine and criticised Donald Trump’s recent Russia decisions, including a diesel deal and some sanctions waivers.
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ATLANTA - Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 (G-20) skipped a traditional group photo ahead of their meeting in Atlanta on Oct 30 after European representatives objected to the presence of Russia.
The US State Department agenda for the meeting did not include the so-called family shot and ministers – including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov – began the first session without having posed for photographers.
“In no case will there be a family photo with European partners and Mr Lavrov together because... there is no normalcy with Russia,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters earlier on Oct 30.
European officials had earlier suggested there might be two separate pictures - one with Lavrov and one without.
European G-20 members back Ukraine, which has objected to US President Donald Trump’s recent decisions on Russia, including a deal to buy diesel and waive some sanctions. REUTERS