Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – We are at a "pivotal moment" in history, in which "choices must be made" in the face of "threats to the economic order." This was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's opening statement at the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Atlanta. "We are at a critical moment; I would call it a moment of choice, and not just for the United States, but also for the world," Rubio continued, adding that "we are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose serious threats to the foundations of the global economic order, new disruptions, and strains on global energy and food supplies."
According to the head of US diplomacy, in this context it is still possible to "achieve significant results for our citizens".
Meanwhile, however, several European diplomats refused to pose next to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the group photo at the end of the summit, forcing the US Secretary of State to cancel it.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski explained. "I wasn't the only one who didn't want to take a photo with Lavrov," he told reporters on the sidelines of the G20, explaining the cancellation of the traditional family photo. Taking the opportunity, Sikorski said he wanted to send a message to Lavrov: "It's time to end this bloody war."
Some European representatives had actually proposed a compromise.
That is, to take two photos, one with Lavrov and one without. Rubio instead decided to cancel the photo entirely. The names of the diplomats who protested were not released.
Lavrov is in Atlanta to call for the lifting of sanctions against Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. During his speeches today and tomorrow, Lavrov will oppose the "destructive" policies of "certain powers" that use "economic weapons," such as "sanctions, trade wars, and the disruption of supply chains," against their adversaries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "We will reiterate our belief that the prosperity of peoples can only be ensured if the world economy remains open. This involves combating unfair competition and the neocolonial practices widely used by the West," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that preparations for Lavrov's visit to the United States did not go "smoothly." "Unfortunately, the Russian side once again faced bureaucratic obstacles from the American side, as well as difficulties with accreditation and obtaining visas," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for continued "constant work" to remove "restrictions" on the entry of Russian diplomats to the United States, in order to ensure "the success of the event." This month, US President Donald Trump reached an agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions against Moscow in exchange for the release of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market. The measure, adopted with the aim of reducing fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, drew strong criticism from Ukraine and its allies.
On Tuesday, Moscow announced that three tankers carrying Russian diesel fuel were headed to the United States, and that a fourth would set sail on Wednesday. The G20 summit will then take place in Miami on December 14th and 15th.
international/foreign
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