The G20 group photocall was cancelled after UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other European counterparts refused to be photographed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, citing Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
The planned group photocall at the G20 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, was cancelled after UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and several European officials, including Germany's Johann Wadephul and Poland's Radosław Sikorski, refused to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was hosting, made the decision to scrap the photograph to avoid controversy and distraction. Miliband directly confronted Lavrov during the meeting, accusing Russia of being the aggressor in Ukraine, highlighting recent drone attacks, and stating that Russia is not winning the war. A UK Government source confirmed their longstanding policy of not engaging bilaterally with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine. Some G20 countries had expressed concern over Russia's invitation given its heightened attacks on Ukraine and recent US policy shifts. Despite the diplomatic tensions, Rubio appealed for unity on global challenges threatening international security and trade, such as energy and food supply disruptions. However, diplomats noted that Russia's stance on Ukraine remained unyielding, and consensus on contentious issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US-Israeli war against Iran, and trade tariffs remained elusive.
