G20 Abandons Group Photo Amid Protests Over Russian Official

WHO:

CNN - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to cancel the G20 foreign ministers’ traditional “family photo.”

CNN - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was expected to appear in the photo; more than a third of attending officials had threatened to walk out, according to two Western officials.

BBC News - European foreign ministers refused to be photographed with Sergei Lavrov.

The Guardian - Australia, the UK and several European officials said they would boycott or walk out of a photo with Lavrov or other Russian representatives.

The Guardian - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no family photo with European partners and Lavrov because “there is no normality with Russia.”

The Guardian - UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said, “We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years.”

The Guardian - Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the opening session. A spokesperson said Australia supported canceling the photo and would not “normalise Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

The Guardian - Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski represented Poland, attending a G20 meeting as a guest for the first time.

The Guardian - South Africa’s international relations minister is Ronald Lamola; spokesperson Phindile Kunene said the country’s nonparticipation was “not voluntary.”

WHAT:

CNN - The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting proceeded without its traditional group photo. The United States had considered holding two photos—one with Lavrov and one without—before Rubio canceled the photo altogether.

CNN - A US official said some delegations were unwilling to participate in a joint photo. Another said the United States wanted to prevent a ceremonial event from distracting from substantive discussions and shared G20 priorities.

The Guardian - About one-third of countries at the talks indicated they would not appear beside Russian representatives.

The Guardian - Participants said disagreements over Russia, Poland’s G20 membership and South Africa’s exclusion could prevent a joint communiqué.

The Guardian - Ukraine, a nonmember invited to previous meetings, was not invited. US officials said the invitation list deliberately included only formal G20 members. Poland is seeking membership with US support.

The Guardian - South Africa, a G20 founding member and its only African member, was absent from the invitation list.

WHERE:

CNN - The meeting took place in Atlanta, United States.

The Guardian - The next G20 leaders’ summit is to be hosted by President Trump in Florida.

WHY:

CNN - US officials said the photo risked becoming a diplomatic distraction and spectacle that would overshadow the meeting.

The Guardian - European Union nations said they would boycott a photo with Russian representatives because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was ongoing.

HOW:

CNN - Rubio opened the meeting by calling it a “critical moment” amid interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, and urged the G20 to work together on economic resilience, markets and shared threats.

The Guardian - Diplomats described the opening session as cordial but said Russia’s position on Ukraine remained unyielding.

(UPDATED October 31, 2026 04:03 UTC)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the G20 ministers’ traditional photo after officials threatened boycotts. European ministers refused to pose with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Atlanta meeting continued, but disputes over Russia and membership threatened a joint communiqué.