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G20 Photocall Cancelled Over British Refusal To Pose With Russia

Published 10h ago · Latest report 4h ago · Diplomatic dispute

Affects United Kingdom, United States, and Russia

AI summary45s readNegative

Western ministers forced the cancellation of a G20 photo session to avoid posing with Russia's top diplomat.

Organisers cancelled a group photograph for visiting foreign ministers at a G20 gathering after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and several European counterparts refused to stand alongside Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov. During the summit, the British minister also directly confronted the Russian envoy regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The boycottBritish Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband led a group of European diplomats in refusing to participate in the scheduled group photograph.
The cancellationThe United States called off the official photocall after learning that key allied ministers intended to stay away from the Russian envoy.
The confrontationThe British minister reportedly told the Russian diplomat directly that his country is not winning the war in Ukraine.

Written from 2 of 3 outlets — 1 has since joined this story.

Why it matters

Diplomatic tensions between Western nations and Moscow remain exceptionally high at international summits following the invasion of Ukraine. High-level boycotts and public confrontations have become frequent occurrences when Russian officials attend multilateral forums.

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What outlets agree on

The United States cancelled a scheduled G20 foreign ministers photocall because British and European diplomats refused to be photographed alongside Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

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