Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov received an icy reception at the G20 foreign ministers' summit with some of his counterparts refusing to even have a picture taken with him.
In what has been kept hush-hush by the South African government, it's alleged that member states of the EU rallied together against taking a traditional “family photo” that would include the Russian minister.
Journalists were told earlier on Thursday that a photo of the 15 foreign ministers, four deputies and US representative Dana Brown would take place in the afternoon.
Journalists were called to congregate at the door of the plenary where the ministers were holding closed meetings, however shortly after that photojournalists were told the family photo had been cancelled.
Insiders said the glitch came on the side of South Africa's government support staff who were unaware the photo session had been cancelled.
They said minister of international relations Ronald Lamola's staff had been made aware by EU vice-president Kaja Kallas' staff that a photo which included Lavrov would not be possible.
Spokesperson for the minister of international relations and co-operation, Chris Phiri, told TimesLIVE Premium that the photo had been cancelled due to time constraints.
“Nation states can make their own calls on whether they want to be in a photo. It has nothing to do with the host,” Phiri said.
International relations and co-operation director-general Zane Dangor said the family photo was not a key issue.
“We did set it up when the time ran out. So, I'm not sure other discussions have been taking place, “he said.
Its alleged the tensions between the Russian and EU ministers played out during the plenary with the UK's David Lammy choosing to leave during Lavrov's address.
In his address, which was published by his office, Lammy said the meeting expected to hear more than the “Russian gentleman’s tired fabrications”.
He said any just and lasting peace in the Russia/Ukraine conflict must be consistent with the UN Charter. “We want that as soon as possible.”
He said while countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, Russia had learnt nothing.
“I listened carefully to Minister Lavrov ... hoping to hear some readiness to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. I was hoping to hear some sympathy for the innocent victims of the aggression. I was hoping to hear some readiness to seek a durable peace.
“What I heard was the logic of imperialism dressed up as a realpolitik, and I say to you all, we should not be surprised, but neither should we be fooled. We are at a crucial juncture in this conflict, and Russia faces a test.
“If [Russian president Vladimir] Putin is serious about a lasting peace, it means finding a way forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which provides credible security guarantees, and which rejects Tsarist imperialism, and Britain is ready to listen,” Lammy said.
Lavrov retaliated against the EU in his published statement at the meeting accusing it of inspiring armed conflicts and claiming that the dollar has been “weaponised” and “turned into a tool for manipulations”.
“The West’s anti-Russia sanctions, augmented by terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, are a convincing example. This has seriously impaired the competitive potential of those who initiated unlawful restrictions, primarily the EU. Apart from the West’s economic miscalculations, all this has slowed down global growth rates, provoked inflation, market setbacks and undermined the Global South’s development,” Lavrov said.
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