G20 foreign ministers meet in Atlanta ahead of Miami summit

On October 30 and 31, 2026, the G20 foreign ministers held a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, to prepare for the upcoming G20 summit scheduled for December 14-15 in Miami. The delegation from Russia was led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who traveled to the United States despite being personally subject to American sanctions. During the talks, Lavrov sought the lifting of sanctions against Moscow, while emphasizing Russia's vision for a multipolar world.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio presided over the event, characterizing it as a critical moment amidst global economic and geopolitical tensions. Rubio confirmed that he held brief discussions with Lavrov regarding a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, Rubio stated that while the U.S. remains committed to exploring peace, there is no immediate consensus that a negotiated settlement is currently within reach. He noted that President Zelensky could be invited to the December summit in Miami if the U.S. administration deems such participation productive for ending the conflict.