Name? Sergey Lavrov
Westphalian identity? Russian
Age? 76
Why is he in the news? On 30 October, the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting commenced without the traditional “family photo” as several European officials did not want to appear alongside Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. Host Marco Rubio feared that European objections would overshadow the conference and cancelled the photo-op altogether.
Why do we care? Although the transatlantic relationship was once a united front, the Europeans are seeking to maintain a hardline against Russia, especially given President Donald Trump’s rapprochement with Putin. Although a photograph at a multilateral meeting may not seem like much, European ministers are demonstrating that whereas the United States can be moved to normalise, the Russians will not outlast European resolve to freeze them out. Lavrov, they claim, remains a bad faith actor, no matter how many overtures Rubio attempts.
Why should you care? The meeting was the final precursor to this year’s G20 summit in December. Its participants represent about two thirds of the world’s population and 85% of global GDP. At the same time, the meeting failed to secure Russian agreement to ceasefire in a crucial agricultural route in the Black Sea, risking further food supply disruptions beyond the region.
Who else cares? The man and country on whose behalf European ministers are standing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Zelenskyy’s ministers were not present at the meeting last week, Washington has hinted at Zelenskyy being invited to December’s G20 summit, something the President has said he would welcome. If invited, Zelenskyy hopes to hold a trilateral meeting with his Russian and American counterparts to discuss ending the war, an initiative the Kremlin has reportedly already rejected.
Any further comments? While Europe gives Russia’s Lavrov the cold shoulder, the US is playing both sides. Considering easing sanctions against Moscow while also approving the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, lets the US keep its options open.