European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of telling “a lot of lies” during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta on Friday, as European officials used the gathering to confront Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Speaking to AFP, Kallas said the session allowed Europeans to address Lavrov “head on” over the “big geopolitical crisis, including Ukraine.” She added that Lavrov presented “a lot of false narratives” which the European side challenged directly.
Diplomatic sources told AFP that European officials also used the opportunity to press for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, a proposal that drew sharp pushback from the Russian minister. The talks came amid ongoing efforts to broker a partial truce, including a fragile local ceasefire in Oleshky that has allowed some evacuations to begin.
British minister confronts Lavrov
British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said he had told Lavrov during the plenary that “he should have the courage to tell Putin that Russia will not win this war.” Miliband also raised the recent Russian drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro that killed at least 13 people, stressing that Moscow remained the “aggressor” in a conflict that began with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The British minister’s remarks echoed a broader European stance that Russia’s military objectives are unattainable. The exchange came as European capitals continue to bolster their own defences, including a new three-year defence pact between Poland and the UK.
In his own press conference, Lavrov “welcomed” Washington’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Moscow, while criticising what he called Europe’s “arrogant boycott.” He described the US approach as “a good lesson for our European colleagues.”
The G20 meetings were also marked by a diplomatic snub: several European ministers reportedly refused to stand for a group photograph with Lavrov, leading US organisers to cancel the photo entirely. The incident underscored the deep divisions between Russia and Western nations over the war.
US approves new Patriot package for Ukraine
On Friday, the US State Department approved a $2.1 billion package of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptors for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision as a “strong decision” but warned that deliveries could take years.
“Five hundred PAC-3 interceptors is a substantial number, and very soon – this winter – they COULD make for a highly effective defence package,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “However, it has been stipulated that deliveries may begin ONLY IN A FEW YEARS. We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors.”
Ukraine has repeatedly called for more air-defence systems as it continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks, including recent overnight strikes that injured four in Zaporizhzhia and sparked fires in Odesa. The new package is seen as a long-term commitment, but Kyiv’s immediate needs remain acute.
The G20 talks come just days before the US midterm elections, which will determine the balance of power in Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. European officials are watching closely, as the outcome could affect future US support for Ukraine and transatlantic relations.
