The key facts

  • Kaja Kallas called Lavrov's statements on Ukraine 'false narratives'
  • A number of delegates refused to take part in the 'family photo' with Lavrov, and it was cancelled
  • The US approved 500 PAC-3 interceptors worth $2.1 billion; Zelensky warned of multi-year delivery timelines

Sharp confrontation on the sidelines of the G20 in Atlanta

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas told the AFP agency, that at the G20 ministerial meetings in Atlanta participants confronted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov head-on over the 'major geopolitical crisis,' including the war in Ukraine. According to her, Lavrov put forward 'a lot of lies, a lot of false narratives,' which the Europeans disputed. An AFP diplomatic source also reported that European officials used the meetings to pressure Moscow over efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which drew pushback from Lavrov.

Miliband: 'must have the courage to tell Putin'

British minister Ed Miliband, according to AFP, said he told Lavrov at the plenary session that he 'must have the courage to tell Putin that Russia will not win this war.' He is also reported to have confronted Lavrov over the recent strike on a railway station in Dnipro, which killed 15 people, stressing that Moscow is the 'aggressor' in the conflict that began in February 2022 with the full-scale invasion by Russian forces.

Lavrov's reaction and the cancelled photo

At a press conference on Friday, Lavrov 'welcomed' the US readiness for dialogue with Moscow and criticized what he called Europe's 'arrogant boycott,' calling Washington's approach 'a good lesson for our European colleagues.' According to participants in the meetings, a number of officials refused to take part in the 'family photo' with Lavrov, as a result of which the American organizers cancelled the picture. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lavrov on the sidelines of the summit. The meetings took place just days before the US midterm elections, which will determine the balance in Congress during the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency.

US approves Patriot interceptor package for Ukraine

The same day, the US State Department announced its approval of a package of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptors worth $2.1 billion for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Washington for the 'strong decision,' but warned that, under the terms, deliveries could begin 'only in a few years.' He called on American partners to find a solution for the period when there is a real danger and a real need for interceptors, noting that 500 PAC-3s 'as early as this winter' could constitute a highly effective defense package.