G20 ministers end Atlanta talks without a joint communique
Top diplomats from the G20 ended two days of talks in Atlanta on Saturday without a joint communique, the Associated Press reports, and NPR also reported none. The AP says splits over Russia's war in Ukraine hung over the meeting. It says Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted, put out a chair's statement instead.
Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 major economies ended two days of talks in Atlanta on Saturday without a joint communique, the Associated Press reports. Divisions over Russia's war in Ukraine shaped the talks from the start, the AP says.
Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who chaired the meeting, released a chair's statement after the talks, the AP reports. It listed priorities from energy and food security to freedom of navigation. But it did not mention any agreements, the AP says. Diplomats said a chair's statement had long been the plan.
"I wouldn't pretend to you today that we are close to finding universally accepted solutions to these problems," Rubio said at a closing news conference, according to the AP. He said some members were working together on supply chains and critical minerals.
On Friday, Rubio canceled the usual group photo of the ministers, the AP reports. NPR said there was "no joint communiqué or even a family photo." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made light of the dispute over the photo, NPR says. Rubio defended inviting Lavrov, saying the United States has to be able to talk to Russia.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said it was hard to agree. "We have wars going on, and we have participants in those wars around the table," he said, according to the AP. Sikorski also pushed for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, NPR reports.
Rubio also warned that Iran targets commercial ships, NPR reports. He said the United States is open to talks with Iran, but he would not rule out new attacks, NPR says.
The meeting came ahead of the G20 leaders' summit, which President Donald Trump will host at his Miami golf club in December, the AP reports. It is not clear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend, the AP says.
What we know: The talks ended with a chair's statement and no joint communique.
What we don't: Whether leaders will find more common ground at the December summit.
Where outlets agree The AP and NPR agree that the Atlanta meeting ended without a joint communique and without the usual group photo.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.