G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta: Russia stays at a distance

G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta Russia remains at a distance As of: October 31, 2026 • 4:05 a.m

In Atlanta, the G20 foreign ministers discuss international crises and the consequences for the global economy. But the gaps between the participants are deep. Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov in particular was not sparing with criticism.

Before the G20 summit of the major industrialized and emerging countries, the relationship between European member states and Russia remains tense. On the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the US state of Georgia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described his government's stance on the Ukraine conflict as unchanged.

With a view to possible consultations between Ukraine, the USA and Russia to continue talks on a possible peace solution, Lavrov criticized the Europeans: "They are trying to interfere in the peace negotiation process in Ukraine."

There is also no relaxation in relations between Moscow and Washington, said Lavrov. “In practice, no real progress has been made in relations with the USA so far.” There should be no illusions about the diesel deal.

Lavrov criticized that the fundamental questions were not being solved. The sanctions against Moscow remained in force or would be tightened, and weapons would continue to be supplied to Kiev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statements about attacks on Russian targets are also not helpful in preparing for new talks.

Carsten Kühntopp, ARD Washington, currently Atlanta, on the topics at the G20 foreign ministers meeting tagesthemen, Das Erste, October 30, 2026 • 9:45 p.m. Lavrov speaks of "family photo diplomacy" The traditional group photo was canceled because European representatives did not want to pose together with Lavrov. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul declared that there was “no normality with Russia”. For his part, Lavrov criticized the European representatives for their "arrogant boycott" and accused them of "family photo diplomacy." “If the most important thing for them is how they look in a family photo and who is standing next to them, then that says it all,” he complained.

Lavrov also criticized Poland's invitation to the meeting as counterproductive. The USA invited Poland without consultation, he said, according to Russian news agencies. Poland is "not contributing anything" to the meeting and its economy is not big enough to take part.

He sees the hybrid attacks against Ukraine supporters as having reached a new level of escalation. more

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Lavrov of spreading lies about the war in Ukraine at the summit. "Of course he put forward a lot of lies, a lot of false representations, which we were then able to refute," Kallas told the AFP news agency.

Asked whether Lavrov had shown any signs of giving in, Kallas replied "no." "Even if they would claim this with words, their actions speak a different language," she said of the Russian leadership. The months of July, August and September were the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine. Kallas called for further pressure on Moscow, particularly for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

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The deliberations in Atlanta were controversial with some participants, but the tone was objective and did justice to the seriousness of the situation, said Wadephul on ZDF. "Everyone notices, everyone knows that the world is in an extraordinarily critical situation" and that it is the task of the G20 to "try everything to defuse conflicts and crises."

However, a breakthrough on the key conflict issues, which mostly have to do with Russia or China, is not expected from the deliberations in Atlanta. Even before the meeting it was said that there would probably be no joint final statement. In the third and final working session on Saturday, the group will discuss the topic of “supply chains”.

The prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine remains vague. more

The G20 meeting in Atlanta is something of a dress rehearsal for the summit of heads of state and government on December 14th and 15th in Miami. In addition to President Donald Trump, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), French President Emmanuel Macron and China's head of state Xi Jinping are expected there.

Trump has also invited Putin to the summit - but it is still unclear whether he will accept the invitation. Putin last physically attended a summit in 2019. The G20 group includes 19 countries as well as the European Union and the African Union.

This topic in the program: The First | daily topics | Oct 30, 2026 | 9:45 p.m