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Vol. 3 · No. 304 Every side. Side by side. Saturday, October 31, 2026
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U.S. scraps G20 ministers’ group photo after Lavrov boycott

The United States canceled a G20 foreign ministers’ group photo in Atlanta after European diplomats refused to appear with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, BBC and DW reported.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. DW is now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “U.S. cancels G20 group photo after European objections over Lavrov”
  3. Our desk updated its story
  4. The Guardian is now reporting this
  5. Reuters is now reporting this
3 earlier updates
  1. Al Jazeera is now reporting this
  2. New York Times is now reporting this
  3. BBC is now reporting this

The United States canceled a planned group photograph at a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta after several European delegations refused to appear with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, BBC and DW reported1,2.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting the gathering1,2. DW said Washington scrapped the photo so it would not become a spectacle or distraction2. Two officials confirmed the cancellation to BBC1.

A British official said the United Kingdom has a longstanding policy against direct bilateral engagement with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine1. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters there would not be a family photo with European partners and Lavrov because there is no normalcy with Russia, DW reported2.

Ukraine is not a G20 member and was not invited to this meeting, BBC said1. Rubio opened the talks by pointing to interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, according to DW2. What is next is whether the December G20 leaders’ meeting hosted by the United States will face a similar boycott; that is not established in these accounts1,2.

Sources

  1. BBCG20 'family photo' cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister
  2. DWEuropean diplomats shun Russia at G20 gathering in the US

Read the original at BBC ↗

How it’s being reported

3 sources

First reported by BBC

Where they agree

  • The Atlanta G20 ministers’ photo was canceled over Lavrov’s presence.
  • European diplomats refused to pose with him.

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

BBC

G20 'family photo' cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister

U.K. policy against bilateral engagement with Russian ministers and a U.S. official’s explanation.

BBC said U.S. hosts canceled the photo after some delegations, including the U.K., refused to stand with Lavrov. BBC News

Leaves out German foreign minister’s on-record comment carried by DW.

U.K. policy against bilateral engagement with Russian ministers and a U.S. official’s explanation.

What it reports

  • The G20 family photo in Atlanta was canceled.
  • The U.K. was among countries that refused to participate.
  • A U.S. official said hosts wanted to avoid a diplomatic distraction.

Leaves out German foreign minister’s on-record comment carried by DW.

Read the original at BBC Read the full article at BBC
DWDW

European diplomats shun Russia at G20 gathering in the US

German comment and Rubio’s call for unity at the talks.

DW said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no family photo with Lavrov because there is no normalcy with Russia.

Leaves out The British official quote used by BBC.

German comment and Rubio’s call for unity at the talks.

What it reports

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the Atlanta meeting.

Leaves out The British official quote used by BBC.

Read the original at DW Read the full article at DW