G20 foreign ministers skip photo-op amid objections over Russia

ATLANTA, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Foreign ministers from the G20 skipped a traditional group photo ahead of their meeting in Atlanta on Friday after European representatives objected to the presence of Russia.

A US official said the State Department had taken the family photo off the official agenda because Washington did not want it to become a spectacle or distraction. 

A third of the participants, including Australia and Canada, made clear they opposed the idea of being photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a Western diplomat said.

“In no case will there be a family photo with European partners and Mr. Lavrov together because … there is no normalcy with Russia,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters before the first session on Friday.

European officials had earlier suggested there might be two separate pictures — one with Lavrov and one without.

European G20 members back Ukraine, which has objected to US President Donald Trump’s recent decisions on Russia, including a deal to buy diesel and waive some sanctions.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by David Holmes and Hugh Lawson)