G20 Photo Dropped After Objections to Appearing With Lavrov

The customary group photograph at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta did not take place after European delegations objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. U.S. officials said the hosts dropped the photo when several delegations indicated they would not participate; reports identified Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the decision-maker. The photo had been planned for October 30, the opening day of the two-day meeting. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said European partners would not pose with Lavrov, arguing there was no normality with Russia. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also said the United Kingdom would not take part in a photograph with the Russian minister. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the meeting, and an Australian spokesperson said the country supported the U.S. decision to cancel the photograph. Rubio opened the talks with a call for cooperation on interconnected economic and geopolitical crises. The ministers met as disagreements over Russia’s war in Ukraine and other issues complicated efforts to find common positions. Participants said a joint...