By Sohaib Shams
The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta saw the traditional "family photo" cancelled after European diplomats refused to pose with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Diplomatic boycott leads to cancellation
The meeting, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gathered top diplomats from the world's largest economies. The photo was scheduled for Friday morning but was called off after several nations, including the United Kingdom, declined to participate.
UK maintains policy on Russian engagement
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was among those present. A UK official stated the country maintains a longstanding policy of no direct bilateral engagement with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine absent amid US tensions
Ukraine, not a G20 member, was not invited to this year's meeting. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have been tense following a diplomatic standoff between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
US-Russia sanctions deal draws criticism
Meanwhile, US-Russia relations have shown signs of thawing. Trump recently waived some sanctions and agreed to import Russian diesel, aiming to lower fuel prices ahead of November mid-term elections. Ukraine and its European allies have criticized the deal, with Zelensky calling it a "gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin that prolongs the war. Trump said the sanctions suspension is intended to keep Moscow at the negotiating table.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Moscow has intensified missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks.
