G20 Scraps Its Photo
Marco Rubio cancels the foreign ministers' group picture in Atlanta after European delegations refuse to stand with Russia's Sergey Lavrov.
Flags of G20 members before the Atlanta skyline, October 2026.Illustration by The Good Times, based on a photo of Atlanta by Marc Merlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta went ahead without its traditional "family photo." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the host, canceled it after European delegations refused to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Rather than allow a ceremonial photo opportunity to become a diplomatic distraction," the United States chose to "forgo the photo and keep the focus on the substantive discussions," a U.S. official said. In the session, Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband spoke to Lavrov directly: "We all know who the aggressor in this war is." Lavrov dismissed the dispute over the photo, saying that if appearances mattered most to his critics, "that says it all," and called a brief talk with Rubio "fairly good." The dispute follows President Trump's waiver of some Russia sanctions and a deal to import Russian diesel, which Ukraine and its European allies have criticized. Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called Rubio "a reliable partner" but said the tone in Europe is "of course, different."
The G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta went ahead without its traditional "family photo," the group picture of every delegation taken at most high-level gatherings. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the host, canceled it after European delegations refused to stand for a picture with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"Rather than allow a ceremonial photo opportunity to become a diplomatic distraction, the United States decided to forgo the photo and keep the focus on the substantive discussions," a U.S. official said, adding that it had become clear some delegations were unwilling to take part.
In the room
Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband addressed Lavrov in the session. "Let me say this directly to the Russian Foreign Minister: We all know who the aggressor in this war is," he said, according to remarks released by the British side. He pointed to a Russian drone attack at the railway in Dnipro, Ukraine, that he said had killed 15 people the day before. A British official said the U.K. has had no direct bilateral contact with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine and would not start now.
Lavrov brushed off the episode. "If what matters most to them is how they look in the family photo and who is standing next to them, well, that says it all," he told reporters. He said he had "a fairly good conversation" with Rubio.
"We have wars going on and we have participants in those wars around the table, so it's very difficult to agree a common line," Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said.
The rift behind it
The dispute follows President Trump's decision to waive some sanctions on Russia and to strike a deal to import Russian diesel, steps Ukraine and its European allies have criticized. Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called Rubio "a reliable partner" and said the United States and Europe agree the war must end, but that "the tone in Europe is, of course, different."