US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia
News Source
•Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:29:28 GMT
📰 What Happened
The usual group photo at the start of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting was cancelled. The meeting was held in Atlanta, in the United States. Australia, the UK and many European countries said they would not stand beside Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio scrapped the photo. About one third of the countries at the talks said they would boycott it. Germany's foreign minister said there is "no normality with Russia". Rubio still opened the meeting with a call for unity.
🔍 The Backstory
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, many Western countries have cut back normal contact with Russian officials. Meetings like the G20 became awkward, because Russia is still a member.
Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, spoke at the meeting and called the invasion brutal and unjustified. She said the war has pushed up world food prices. A spokesman said Australia backed the US decision to cancel the photo.
🎯 Why It Matters
Wars far away can raise prices at your supermarket. This meeting shows how deep the split with Russia still is.
The usual group photo at the start of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting was cancelled. The meeting was held in Atlanta, in the United States. Australia, the UK and many European countries said they would not stand beside Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio scrapped the photo. About one third of the countries at the talks said they would boycott it. Germany's foreign minister said there is "no normality with Russia". Rubio still opened the meeting with a call for unity.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, many Western countries have cut back normal contact with Russian officials. Meetings like the G20 became awkward, because Russia is still a member.
Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, spoke at the meeting and called the invasion brutal and unjustified. She said the war has pushed up world food prices. A spokesman said Australia backed the US decision to cancel the photo.
Wars far away can raise prices at your supermarket. This meeting shows how deep the split with Russia still is.