G20 'family photo' cancelled after UK, Australia and others refuse to appear with Russia's Lavrov

Unbiased summary

The traditional 'family photo' at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta was cancelled after several nations, including the UK, Australia and EU members, refused to be pictured with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted the meeting, cancelled the photo. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the plenary that Russia was the aggressor and would not win its war in Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there could be 'no normalcy with Russia'. Australia's Penny Wong condemned Russia's invasion in front of Lavrov. Lavrov dismissed the cancellations as 'family photo diplomacy'. About one-third of attending countries indicated they would not appear beside Russian representatives.

Generated with deepseek-flash (DeepSeek)

Coverage by outlet

The Guardian left

Angle Frames the story as evidence of Russia's international isolation and the rupture caused by the Trump administration, with a strong focus on Western unity against Russia.

Bias The Guardian emphasises the boycott by European nations, the UK and Australia, and highlights critical quotes from Western ministers. It omits Lavrov's 'family photo diplomacy' remark and Russian perspectives almost entirely. It also links the incident to a broader 'rupture' caused by the Trump administration, adding an editorial framing not present in the core facts.

US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia

BBC News centre-left

Angle Presents the cancellation as a diplomatic protest over Russia's presence, with a focus on UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's direct criticism of Russia.

Bias The BBC highlights Miliband's accusations against Russia and notes that Ukraine was not invited to this meeting, providing some context. However, it downplays Lavrov's response and omits the specific number of countries refusing to appear (around one-third). The overall framing leans toward the Western diplomatic position without explicitly endorsing it.

G20 'family photo' cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister

GB News right

Angle Focuses on Ed Miliband's confrontational remarks and includes more of Lavrov's response, framing the story as a clash of rhetoric with a slightly more balanced inclusion of Russian pushback.

Bias GB News gives more space to Lavrov's 'family photo diplomacy' comment and mentions Zelensky's strikes on Russian targets, which other outlets omit. It also includes a US official's rationale about avoiding a 'spectacle'. However, it emphasises Miliband's tough talk and includes emotive language like 'Kremlin hits out', which slightly skews the tone.

Ed Miliband says Russia 'will not win this war' at G20 meeting as Kremlin hits out at 'family photo diplomacy'

The Sun right

Angle Frames the story as a heroic confrontation by Ed Miliband against Putin's 'butcher' regime, with highly emotive language and graphic details of alleged Russian atrocities.

Bias The Sun uses sensationalist and partisan language ('blasts', 'butcher Vlad', 'hellish black-orange plumes') and focuses heavily on Miliband's statements and Ukrainian suffering. It downplays Lavrov's response entirely and omits any neutral framing about the photo cancellation, instead tying it to a broader anti-Russia narrative. The tone and word choice heavily deviate from objective reporting.

Miliband blasts Putin to face of Russian foreign minister during G20 meeting as he slams butcher Vlad killing civilians