Kallas: Lavrov’s G20 Stance Shows No Will to Stop War
EU chief diplomat says Russian actions contradict claims of readiness for peace talks after Atlanta meeting.
By James Anderson ·
Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov displayed no intent to negotiate peace during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the United States. She addressed the issue when a journalist asked if Lavrov signaled a willingness to make concessions to end the war in Ukraine. Kallas answered that he had not.
The EU top diplomat emphasized that verbal claims from Russian officials do not match their behavior. She argued that Russia must prove its readiness to negotiate through concrete actions rather than words. Kallas pointed to the recent months as evidence of this disconnect. "July, August and September were the deadliest months for civilians in Ukraine," she said.
Kallas criticized the specific claims Lavrov made during the meeting. She described his statements as false information regarding the conflict. "Of course, he put forward a lot of lies and many false claims, which we were also able to refute afterwards," Kallas noted. She called for sustained pressure on Moscow to achieve a ceasefire in the Black Sea region.
A notable change occurred during the ministerial gathering in Atlanta. The traditional group photo of G20 foreign ministers did not take place. According to the Associated Press, US officials canceled the joint picture after several European diplomats refused to be photographed with Lavrov. When asked about the absence of the photo, Kallas explained the decision with a reference to the ongoing conflict. "We must not normalise war crimes around this table," she replied.
Lavrov arrived in the United States on October 30 for the event. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski used the opportunity to convey a message to Lavrov, urging Russia to end its war against Ukraine. The meeting serves as a precursor to the December G20 summit in Miami. US President Donald Trump has invited Russian leader Vladimir Putin to that summit. A meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place there.
The EU delegation maintains that the lack of a joint photograph reflects the current state of diplomatic relations. Kallas’s assessment suggests that the G20 forum has not yet bridged the gap between Moscow and the West. The focus remains on securing a halt to hostilities, particularly in key maritime areas. The next major diplomatic opportunity will occur at the Miami summit in December.
