Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov challenged the United States’ decision to invite Poland to the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, saying it ran against the group’s consensus practice as Warsaw seeks permanent membership.
Lavrov told reporters on the meeting’s sidelines that invitations and agendas should follow the G20’s consensus approach, Russian news agencies reported. He argued Poland’s economy was too small to warrant attendance and said it “adds nothing” to the talks.
Lavrov also rejected the description of Poland as a representative of eastern Europe, arguing that NATO and European Union members already gave the region sufficient representation. He said Moscow faced no pressure over the invitation and described it as a U.S. decision to invite Sikorski.
Sikorski told reporters in Atlanta that Washington had proposed making Poland a permanent G20 member and that Warsaw was lobbying for the change. He separately urged a quick halt to fighting in the Black Sea to allow grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia to pass safely.
The U.S.-hosted gathering is scheduled to continue through Saturday, Oct. 31. Lavrov arrived for the Atlanta G20 talks, EconoTimes reported earlier.
