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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 20 sources tracked

G20 drops group photo as Europeans refuse to stand with Lavrov

The United States cancelled the traditional G20 family photo in Atlanta after numerous foreign ministers refused to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Marco Rubio cancelled the session after approximately one-third of participating countries threatened a boycott. The meeting began on Friday amid deep divisions over the war in Ukraine, disruptions in the Hormuz strait, and the Iran war. While Lavrov attended the talks, Ukraine was not invited to the proceedings.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ The G20 foreign ministers meeting took place in Atlanta.
  • ✓ The traditional family photo was cancelled because diplomats objected to posing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
  • ✓ Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the photo session.
  • ✓ UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Russian government of killing innocent civilians in Ukraine during the meeting.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 20 independent reporting domains (95% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the photo session following boycott threats from about one-third of the member nations.

Live updates

  1. US cancels G20 group photo after diplomats refuse to pose with Sergey Lavrov

    The United States cancelled the traditional G20 family photo in Atlanta after numerous foreign ministers refused to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Marco Rubio cancelled the session after approximately one-third of participating countries threatened a boycott. The meeting began on Friday amid deep divisions over the war in Ukraine, disruptions in the Hormuz strait, and the Iran war. While Lavrov attended the talks, Ukraine was not invited to the proceedings.

    Why it matters

    The G20 serves as a primary forum for the world's largest economies to coordinate global policy. The cancellation of the symbolic group photo signals a breakdown in diplomatic norms and intensifying Western isolation of Russia. This friction is compounded by current geopolitical instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

    What is confirmed

    • The G20 foreign ministers meeting took place in Atlanta.
    • The traditional family photo was cancelled because diplomats objected to posing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the photo session.
    • UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Russian government of killing innocent civilians in Ukraine during the meeting.
    • The UK and Australia were among the nations that refused to appear in the photo with Russia.
    • Sergey Lavrov attended the meeting despite objections from US and European lawmakers.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Ukraine was not invited to the G20 meeting.
    • About one-third of countries threatened to boycott the photo session.

    What to watch next

    • Official statements from the G20 regarding the final communique
    • Reports on the outcome of the plenary session on geopolitical issues
    • Diplomatic responses from the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the photo cancellation
    Sources used for this update (32)
    1. www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
    2. www.bbc.com — BBC Home - Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business...
    3. BBC — G20 'family photo' cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister
    4. The New York Times — Distaste for Russian Diplomat Forces U.S. to Cancel Photo Session in Atlanta
    5. Al Jazeera — G20 drops group photo as Europeans refuse to stand with Lavrov
    6. CNN — G20 photo scrapped amid tensions over Russian foreign minister’s presence
    7. Yahoo — US scraps G20 photo after European diplomats object to being pictured with Russia's Lavrov
    8. FOX 5 Atlanta — Atlanta road closures: G-20 summit block Midtown streets
    9. U.S. Department of State (.gov) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a Plenary Session on Geopolitical Issues
    10. The Guardian — US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia
    11. Reuters — G20 foreign ministers skip photo-op amid objections over Russia
    12. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — As Lavrov Returns To G20, Ukraine, Middle East Highlight Western Divisions
    confidence 95%
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