Foreign ministers from G20 nations have convened in Atlanta, Georgia, for a two-day meeting under the chairmanship of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The gathering includes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is representing Germany at the consultations. This event is viewed as a potential dress rehearsal regarding the handling of Russia ahead of the G20 summit for heads of state and government scheduled for December 14 and 15 in Miami.
The United States has extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the upcoming leaders' summit, though Lavrov has attended G20 meetings more regularly than the Russian president recently. During the Atlanta talks, ministers are expected to discuss ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, Wadephul called on Russia and Iran to open trade routes, specifically citing the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf region. Conversely, Lavrov is reportedly set to push for the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
Diplomatic sources indicate that while a statement from the US presidency is expected at the conclusion of the talks, no joint declaration will be issued due to divergent views among participants. The G20 group includes major powers such as Germany, the United States, Russia, China, India, and Japan. Ahead of the summit, questions arose regarding whether Wadephul and Lavrov would pose for a joint photograph, a practice recently avoided by other politicians like Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil.
Wadephul stated that the priority is not the photograph but the substance of the discussions. He emphasized that there is no normality between Germany and Russia because Moscow continues to attack Ukraine and endanger European security. Highlighting fundamentally different positions, Wadephul noted that diplomacy requires dialogue to convey one's own stance effectively. The report includes information from Markus Sambale at the ARD Capital Studio.
Sources: Tagesschau.