Ukraine war briefing: Moscow’s Lavrov snubbed at G20 in Atlanta

Russian foreign minister heavily criticised by EU foreign policy chief, and plans for the traditional ‘family photo’ abandoned. What we know on day 1,711 The EU’s foreign policy chief has accused Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov of presenting “lies” in G20 meetings in Atlanta about the Ukrainian conflict and suggested Moscow was not ready for peace negotiations.

“We were talking about the big geopolitical crisis, including Ukraine, and we were able to address Sergei Lavrov head-on with this,” Kaja Kallas told Agence France-Presse on the sidelines of a meeting on Friday. “Of course, he put forward a lot of lies, a lot of false narratives that we were also able to then rebuke.” Kallas said Russia did not appear ready to move ahead in peace talks. “Even if they would have said this in words, their deeds tell something else,” she said.

“July, August, and September have been the deadliest months for civilians in Ukraine.” She added: “They should show with their deeds that they are ready to negotiate, but they are clearly, clearly not.” At the talks, which are focusing on global economic growth, energy security and trade, European officials pushed Russia to secure a ceasefire in the Black Sea, an important agriculture export corridor.

However, Lavrov conceded no ground on Ukraine and at a press conference, he criticised Europeans for their “arrogant boycott” while praising the willingness of US President Donald Trump’s administration to engage with Moscow. Plans for a...

Read the original report at The Guardian.