Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the family photo that traditionally opens the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting after about a third of the countries at the Atlanta talks said they would not appear beside any Russian representatives, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Germany’s Johann Wadephul had warned that European partners would not be photographed with Lavrov, the United Kingdom’s Ed Miliband took the same position, and Australia’s Penny Wong condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in front of Lavrov in the opening session, with her office saying Australia supported the cancellation and would not normalise the invasion. Rubio opened the talks with an appeal for unity, but participants said the disputes over Russia, Poland’s bid for G20 membership and the absence of member country South Africa, which was not invited, will probably prevent a joint communique when the meeting wraps up on Saturday.
US cancels G20 family photo over Russia boycott
Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the traditional family photo opening the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after Australia, the United Kingdom and European Union countries said they would not appear beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Why it matters: The cancelled photo is the visible half of a wider split at the Atlanta talks: with Russia readmitted to the room, South Africa not invited and Ukraine absent this year, participants say a joint communique is unlikely when the meeting ends on Saturday.
Data as of The Guardian, October 30, 2026 (20:29 EDT), reporting with Associated Press, read in full in this run; single outlet. Statements by ministers and officials are carried as that outlet reports them.
Sources
- US cancels G20 'family photo' after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia - The Guardian, with Associated Press - 2026-10-30