U.K. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Russia’s Sergey Lavrov on Friday at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, “Let me say this directly to the Russian foreign minister – we all know who the aggressor in this war is.” He added, “Only yesterday your drones attacked and killed 15 people. We all know you are the aggressor. But you are not winning this war.”
Today at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting, I set out the UK’s commitment to multilateralism.
We will always stand up for Britain’s values and interests in the world.
In the plenary, I told the Russian Foreign Minister that he should have the courage to tell Putin that Russia will not win this war.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) October 30, 2026
Earlier that morning, the traditional group photo was called off, amid reports that other invitees would not pose with Lavrov.
“I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov,” said Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “We must not normalize war crimes around this table.” And German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said “there is no normality with Russia.”
Sikorski’s Polish Circus in Atlanta
—Will you refuse to take a photo with Lavrov?
—There will be no photo.
—Why?
—Because I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to be in a photo with Lavrov. https://t.co/37Qc9P4XKC
— Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil (@ivan_8848) October 31, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly cancelled the photo to avoid further tensions, defended the invitation of Lavrov at a press conference after the session.
“In order to end the war in Ukraine peacefully, you’re going to have to have a negotiated settlement,” he said. “The president does not view meeting with someone or talking to someone as legitimizing everything they do.” He added: “If we can play a role in mediating an end to that conflict, the United States is prepared to play that role.”
[NOTE: The Trump administration invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 leaders’ summit in Miami, the first Russian invitation to a G20 event since the invasion of Ukraine. Rubio said last month the invitation stands. The Kremlin said it was “considering” it.]
Lavrov said a short meeting he had with Rubio was a “decent talk,” while characterizing European objection to Russia’s diplomatic presence as an “arrogant boycott,” as TRT World reported. Kallas said Lavrov’s stance “gave no indication that Russia is willing” to engage in peace talks.