During the gathering of G20 foreign ministers in Rio de Janeiro, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed the ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Bolivia, as reported by RIA Novosti. The moment underscored a choreography of diplomacy where regional voices intersect with global agendas on the eve of broader discussions.
The broadcast noted that at that same table, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken was positioned on an opposite side, signaling the delicate dynamics that often accompany high-level multilateral meetings.
The exchange between Lavrov and Blinken appeared restrained, with observers noting that the two did not exchange direct eye contact across the table, a detail spotlighted in the coverage of the event.
Lavrov and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira continued talking on the sidelines as negotiations carried on through the day, illustrating how bilateral discussions can complement formal multilateral sessions when major players converge in one venue.
Ahead of the main discussions, the Russian foreign minister voiced a call for the G20 to keep economic tools out of political contests and to avoid unfair competition in the global marketplace. He urged fellow G20 members to pursue balanced, common solutions aimed at restoring disrupted supply chains and ensuring open access to energy resources and essential food supplies, framing these goals as prerequisites for stabilizing the world economy in the wake of recent tensions.
Earlier, there was a moment of questioning about Ukraine that did not yield further public clarification, reflecting the sensitivity and complexity surrounding the topic within the broader diplomatic dialogue at the conference.