Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.deutschland.de
Atlanta (dpa) – Just over six weeks before the G20 summit of major industrialised and emerging economies, there is no sign of a thaw in relations between European member states and Russia at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta. One indication of this was the cancellation of the customary “family photo” of all participants, which would have included Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, discussions with some participants in Atlanta have been contentious, but the tone has remained businesslike and appropriate to the gravity of the situation. “Everyone realises, everyone is well aware that the world is in an exceptionally critical situation”, said Wadephul, and that the G20’s task was to “do everything possible to defuse conflicts and crises”.
At the third and final working session today, Saturday, the ministers are due to discuss supply chains. Wadephul has repeatedly accused Russia of being responsible, as a result of its war in Ukraine, for the threat of famine in places such as the Middle East and countries of the so-called Global South.
A breakthrough on the conflicts under discussion is not expected in Atlanta. Even before the meeting, it had been suggested that there would probably be no joint closing statement.
