European foreign ministers refused to take photos with Lavrov, and the US hosted the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, which got off to a bad start

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) On Friday (October 30), the Group of Twenty (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting opened in Atlanta, USA. It encountered a setback at the beginning: European foreign ministers refused to take a "family photo" with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. The host, US Secretary of State Rubio, decided before the meeting to cancel the group photo to prevent it from becoming a farce and distracting.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters that there would be no photos taken with Lavrov from European partners because "there is no normality with Russia."

The two-day meeting is in preparation for the G20 leaders' summit hosted by US President Trump at his Miami golf club in December.

Rubio calls for unity, but consensus is elusive

Rubio said at the opening that all parties are at a "critical moment" and face "a series of intertwined economic and geopolitical crises". Global energy and trade have been impacted, and "the basic foundation of the global economic order" is under serious threat. Topics of the meeting include freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

However, many countries, including the United States and Russia, are involved in wars of their own. The war in Iran and the war in Ukraine have pushed up global food prices. It is not easy for all parties to find consensus. Wadful said he would call on Russia to accept Ukraine's proposal for a ceasefire starting in the Black Sea.

Lavrov: Zelensky can come to Moscow

The United States has invited Putin to attend the Miami summit, but it is unclear whether Russia will accept it. Zelensky previously said that if Putin arrives, he is willing to go to Miami to hold talks with him. Lavrov told DW on the sidelines of the meeting that if Zelensky is willing to meet, "let him come to Moscow" and Russia "will ensure his safety." He declined to say whether Putin would attend the summit. Putin has not attended a G20 leaders' meeting in person since 2019.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of committing war crimes and being personally criminally responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Russia has stepped up drone strikes on Ukraine's water and energy facilities in recent weeks. On October 29, a train station in Dnipro was attacked by a Russian drone, killing at least 14 people.

Karas: Lavrov has "many lies and false narratives"

Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said that foreign ministers "confronted" Lavrov at the meeting and refuted his "many lies and false narratives." British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also called for redoubled efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

Lavrov said that although Trump announced a diesel agreement with Russia this month and exempted new sanctions on Russian energy, "in fact, so far, relations with the United States have not seen any real progress."

South Africa, a founding member of the G20, was excluded

The United States stated that it would only invite formal members of the G20 this time, so Ukraine, which had been invited in the past, was not invited this year. However, South Africa, a founding member of the G20, is also excluded. The Trump administration has been embroiled in ongoing disputes with South Africa and has imposed visa restrictions on some South Africans, alleging they engage in discrimination against whites. Phindile Kunene, spokesman for South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, said South Africa's non-participation in the meeting was "not of its own free will".

The meeting is expected to end on Saturday and will not issue a final declaration. Instead, the United States will draft a presidential summary.