G20 photo scrapped amid tensions over Russian foreign minister’s presence

Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images

The G20 foreign ministers meeting kicked off in Atlanta on Friday without a “family photo” after numerous representatives were expected to walk out rather than be pictured alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Two Western officials told CNN more than a third of attending officials had threatened to walk out of a picture with the Russian foreign minister.

According to three sources, the US had explored doing two family photos – one with Lavrov and one without. Ultimately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to scrap the photo – which is a traditional element of most high-level gatherings – altogether, two of the sources said.

A US official said Rubio made the decision because he thought the drama around photo would become a distraction and a spectacle that would overshadow the gathering.

“The photo was canceled after it became clear that some of the delegations were unwilling to participate in a joint photo,” another US official said.

“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 and shared priorities of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” they added.

The tension around the photo and Lavrov’s presence in the United States comes amid divisions between the Trump administration and Europe on its approach to Russia. It also comes as Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine – and a potential US return to war on Iran – looms large over the global gathering. President Donald Trump has teased returning to military action after the US midterm elections on Tuesday. Rubio is scheduled to meet with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts in Atlanta.

Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images

In welcome remarks on Friday, Rubio said that the representatives were convening at a “critical moment.”

“We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose severe threats – severe threats to essential foundations of the global economic order. New disruptions and strains to global energy and food supplies – and food markets – to the global supply chain, trade, to freedom of navigation itself,” said Rubio. “And the G20 must work together to confront these threats, to strengthen our economic resilience, to safeguard our markets and the economies that they sustain.”

There are rifts between many in Europe and the Trump administration on its approach to Russia. In recent weeks, Trump struck an oil deal with Moscow and waived sanctions on Russia, while ratcheting up pressure on Kyiv to cease its attacks on Russian oil refineries. A top Russian official said there have been discussions about the possible lifting of US sanctions on Russia’s multibillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund. Amid these actions, Russia has continued its deadly barrage against civilian targets against Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday morning sought to downplay divisions, saying that the US and Europe are “reading from the same paper.” He called Rubio “a reliable partner.”

“We are absolutely clear that this war has to be brought to an end, and that Russia has to come to the negotiation table,” he told reporters in Atlanta. “I would say the tone in Europe is, of course, different.”

“If you’re closer to the conflict, the repercussions of this conflict are for you, for your society, and also for the political discussion in your country, of course, different,” he said.

“We are formulating our positions, and of course, we are always saying that we very much welcome the US initiative to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiation table,” Wadephul added when asked by CNN about US pressure for Russia to economically reintegrate with Europe.

Another Western official noted that major moves like the lifting of sanctions typically come in response to actions from the sanctioned party.

“Has anything happened? We don’t see it,” they said.

Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images

二十国集团（G20）外长会议周五在亚特兰大开幕，但会议期间并未拍摄“全家福”，因为许多代表预计会愤然离场，而不是与俄罗斯外长谢尔盖·拉夫罗夫合影。

两名西方官员告诉 CNN，超过三分之一的出席官员威胁要退出与俄罗斯外长的合影。

据三位消息人士透露，美国曾考虑拍摄两张全家福——一张有拉夫罗夫在场，一张没有。其中两位消息人士称，最终，国务卿马可·卢比奥决定完全取消拍摄全家福——这是大多数高级别会晤的传统环节。

一位美国官员表示，鲁比奥做出这个决定是因为他认为围绕这​​张照片的争议会分散人们的注意力，并成为一场喧嚣，使集会黯然失色。

另一位美国官员表示：“由于一些代表团不愿意参与合影，合影计划被取消了。”

他们补充说：“美国决定放弃拍照，以免仪式性的合影机会分散外交注意力，而是将重点放在二十国集团外长会议的实质性讨论和共同优先事项上。”

围绕这张照片以及拉夫罗夫访美的紧张局势，正值特朗普政府与欧洲在对俄政策上存在分歧之际。与此同时，莫斯科对乌克兰的持续战争以及美国可能重返伊朗战场，也给此次全球峰会蒙上了一层阴影。美国总统唐纳德·特朗普曾暗示，将在周二的美国中期选举后再次采取军事行动。卢比奥计划在亚特兰大会见沙特阿拉伯和土耳其的外长。

Erik S. Lesser/法新社 via Getty Images

鲁比奥在周五的欢迎致辞中表示，代表们正值“关键时刻”齐聚一堂。

“我们正面临一系列相互关联的经济和地缘政治危机，其中许多危机构成严重威胁——对全球经济秩序的根本基础构成严重威胁。全球能源和粮食供应、粮食市场、全球供应链、贸易乃至航行自由本身都面临新的中断和压力，”鲁比奥表示。“二十国集团必须携手应对这些威胁，增强经济韧性，维护市场及其所支撑的经济体。”

欧洲许多人与特朗普政府在对俄政策上存在分歧。最近几周，特朗普与莫斯科达成石油协议，并取消了对俄罗斯的制裁，同时加大对基辅的压力，要求其停止对俄罗斯炼油厂的袭击。一位俄罗斯高级官员表示，双方已就解除美国对俄罗斯数十亿美元主权财富基金的制裁进行了讨论。与此同时，俄罗斯继续对乌克兰境内的平民目标发动致命袭击。

德国外长约翰·瓦德普尔周五上午试图淡化分歧，称美国和欧洲“步调一致”。他称卢比奥是“可靠的伙伴”。

“我们非常清楚，这场战争必须结束，俄罗斯必须回到谈判桌前，”他在亚特兰大对记者说。“当然，欧洲的语气有所不同。”

“如果你离冲突更近，那么这场冲突对你、对你的社会以及对你国家的政治讨论的影响，当然也会有所不同，”他说。

“我们正在制定我们的立场，当然，我们一直表示非常欢迎美国提出的让乌克兰和俄罗斯坐到谈判桌前的倡议，”瓦德普尔在被 CNN 问及美国施压俄罗斯与欧洲经济重新融合时补充道。

另一位西方官员指出，解除制裁等重大举措通常是对受制裁方采取行动的回应。

“发生什么事了吗？我们没看到。”他们说。