Johann Wadephul says there is no business as usual with Russia but differences must be discussed at the table
Johann WadephulFederal Foreign Minister of Germany, speaking to reporters before the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta
Before the Atlanta meeting began, Wadephul said there would be no group photo showing European partners together with Lavrov, that there is no business as usual with Russia, and that differences must be discussed at the table.
“There is no such thing as 'business as usual' with Russia. We need to discuss our differences right here at the table.”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
U.S. scraps G20 group photo after European ministers object to posing with Lavrov; Rubio defends inviting Russia
The United States canceled the group photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after several European ministers objected to posing with Russia's Sergey Lavrov. Rubio said the United States has to talk to Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
German Press Agency (dpa) report, published in English by the Swiss outlet blue News, on Johann Wadephul's statement shortly before the G20 foreign ministers' meeting began in Atlanta. It quotes him saying there would be no group photo showing European partners together with Lavrov, that there is no business as usual with Russia, and that differences must be discussed at the table.
Reporting
About this source
Reuters report from Atlanta, reported by Andrea Shalal, that G20 foreign ministers skipped the traditional group photo after European representatives objected to Russia's presence. It quotes Wadephul saying there would be no family photo with European partners and Lavrov together and reports that European officials had suggested two separate pictures.
Before the quotation
Shortly before the meeting began, Wadephul said he assumed there would be no group photo at all, and that in any case there would be no group photo showing European partners together with Lavrov.
After the quotation
Wadephul said that is why the dialogue is important, but that the ministers must also be careful not to send the wrong signals.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the United States' decision to bring Russia, represented by Lavrov, into the G20 foreign ministers' talks in Atlanta. Wadephul accepts discussing differences with Russia at the table but refuses a group photo with Lavrov and says there is no business as usual with Russia, a conditional position.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Sergey Lavrov
More from this case
Read the full caseRubio says the United States has to be able to talk to Russia and that inviting it to forums like the G20 is one way to do that
“But we have to be able to talk to the Russian side. And one of the ways to do that is to invite them to forums like this, where they're not just hearing from us, but potentially hearing from other countries that are there as well.”Read statement
Emily Thornberry says there is no point meeting Russian officials just to smile sweetly and pretend everything is OK
“The point is, if there's going to be foreign ministers meeting, there's no point in meeting them just to smile sweetly and pretend everything's OK because everything is not OK”Read statement
Don Bacon says Lavrov should not be allowed in the country and Russian leaders should not be welcomed in such forums
“Lavrov should not be allowed in the country. As long as Putin is waging war against Ukraine and bombing cities, Russian leaders should not be welcomed in any of these forums. They lead a pariah state.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Johann Wadephul says there is no business as usual with Russia but differences must be discussed at the table
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/7909-before-the-atlanta-meeting-began-wadephul-said-there
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Johann Wadephul says there is no business as usual with Russia but differences must be discussed at the table". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7909-before-the-atlanta-meeting-began-wadephul-said-there