'Europeans balked': G20 foreign ministers' meeting opens without group photo. Here's why

The G20 foreign ministers meeting commenced without the usual group photograph, causing European officials to object. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the traditional photo after several Europeans threatened to boycott or leave over Russia's participation. Moscow is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who accompanied Russian officials to the Atlanta summit.

US officials revealed that European officials objected to being photographed alongside Lavrov, urging Rubio to cancel the photo to prevent potential distractions. The British Foreign Office reiterated its policy of not engaging directly with Russian ministers due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski supported the cancellation, stating that it was the "right decision".

German top diplomat Johann Wadephul cautioned against sending "falsely optimistic signals," emphasizing that Russia is a different entity compared to past times. Despite the controversial atmosphere, Rubio's meeting focused on unity on matters related to international security and global trade, acknowledging the critical moment the world faces, including severe threats to global economic foundations.