About one-third of the countries attending the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta refused to appear in the traditional group photograph beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, prompting the United States to cancel the picture entirely. The boycott by key allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and European Union member states, highlighted how deeply the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to divide international summits.
The cancelled "family photo" normally serves as a public symbol of cooperation at the start of major diplomatic gatherings. However, European officials made clear before the session that posing alongside Russian representatives was unacceptable. Germany’s foreign affairs minister, Johann Wadephul, stated that there could be "no normality with Russia," while UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband affirmed that Britain has avoided that kind of engagement with Moscow for years. During the opening discussions, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also directly condemned Russia's invasion in front of Lavrov, warning that the conflict has harmed international markets and global food security.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called off the photo after nations threatened to walk out, opened the gathering with an appeal for unity amid interconnected geopolitical and economic crises. Despite cordial discussions behind closed doors, diplomats said Russia’s unyielding stance on Ukraine and disputes over group membership meant the ministers would probably fail to agree on a joint final communique.
The clash underlines broader tensions ahead of next month’s G20 leaders’ summit in Florida. While participants agreed to keep trying to overcome their divisions, friction over Russia’s presence—alongside controversy over the exclusion of founding member South Africa—presents a steep challenge to reaching common ground.