UK Foreign Secretary to Skip G20 Photo Op Over Russian Minister's Attendance

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband intends to skip the traditional G20 leaders' "family photo" at the upcoming summit in Atlanta, hosted by the United States. The decision is a protest against the attendance of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Miliband has reportedly requested U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to arrange a separate photograph that would include only close allies, allowing him to avoid a potential diplomatic incident. This move echoes a similar situation in September when Miliband met with his Iranian counterpart at the UN General Assembly.

During a session on Tuesday, Miliband was questioned by Conservative frontbencher Dame Harriett Baldwin about whether he would shake hands with Lavrov. He stated, "We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years." Miliband emphasized the need to "counter the Russian hybrid threat."

The G20 meeting could also become a focal point for broader discussions on support for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing conflict.

European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated she would use the summit and a separate EU-Canada meeting to press for strengthened support for Ukraine. Kallas also called for accountability, stating on X, "Russia must be accountable."

Separately, former chancellor Rachel Reeves urged European Union nations to utilize approximately £175 billion in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine's defense. Reeves, in an article for The Times co-authored with politicians from Germany, France, and Canada, argued that "the time to act is now," especially as Ukraine faces funding challenges and amid pressure from former President Donald Trump for Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow.

Reeves warned that a lack of funding would significantly impair Ukraine's defense capabilities and undermine European security. The co-authored article proposed that the EU take custody of the €210 billion in Russian sovereign assets immobilized in 2022. The authors suggested these assets could fund Ukraine's defense through 2029, mitigating the risk of halted financial support due to elections in EU member states and providing funds beyond the next U.S. presidential election.