G20 foreign ministers end Atlanta talks without consensus

Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 wrapped up two days of talks in Atlanta on Saturday, October 31, without a joint statement or agreement on the main issues facing the world's largest economies, Reuters reported via The Globe and Mail. The meeting exposed deep divisions over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's attendance drew sharp objections from European and Canadian officials, who argued that including him normalized Russia's aggression.theglobeandmail.com

Black Sea ceasefire gains interest

At a closing news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said international interest was growing in a limited Black Sea ceasefire that would protect energy and grain shipments by Russia and Ukraine. He added that Washington is reviewing proposals from Turkey and India to get grain moving again, according to Reuters. "It doesn't solve the war, but at least it solves a unique aspect of it," Rubio said. He defended inviting Lavrov, arguing that the war could not be ended diplomatically without talking to Russia, but conceded that a settlement was not close.theglobeandmail.com

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she had confronted Lavrov directly during a closed-door session. She also said she had discussed a Black Sea ceasefire and a moratorium on strikes against Ukraine's power grid with Ukrainian and Indian counterparts. In her account, Russia had not shown it was willing to move ahead. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul likewise urged Moscow to accept Ukraine's ceasefire offer "starting in the Black Sea," AFP reported.scmp.com+1

Canceled photo and sharp exchanges

The divisions showed on Friday, when Rubio canceled the traditional group photo after several European officials threatened to boycott it rather than appear alongside Lavrov, the Associated Press reported. "I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov," said Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Lavrov of putting forward "a lot of lies." Lavrov in turn criticized what he called the Europeans' "arrogant boycott" and praised the Trump administration for engaging with Moscow. He also said Moscow's position on Ukraine had not changed.ksbw.com+1

Iran, South Africa and the Miami summit

Other disputes also hung over the meeting. These included the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up fuel prices, and Washington's decision not to invite South Africa, a founding member of the G20, the AP reported. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned that the wars' effect on fuel and shipping costs would keep stoking social unrest in Europe.afr.com+1

Rubio said he spoke briefly with Lavrov about a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, either at next month's APEC gathering or at the G20 leaders' summit at Trump's Doral resort in Miami in December. He added that Putin has not firmly committed to attending.theglobeandmail.com