Ed Miliband 'to snub' G20 family photo with Russian counterpart Lavrov - as he urges US hosts to stage a separate picture with allies

Published: 06:04 EDT, 30 October 2026 | Updated: 06:06 EDT, 30 October 2026 Ed Miliband is to boycott a 'family photo' at a meeting of G20 hosted by Trump's America in protest at the attendance of Russia's Sergei Lavrov.The Foreign Secretary will not take part in the traditional image showing all 20 of them together at the event in Atlanta because Putin's burly henchman is attending.Mr Miliband is said to have asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to stage a separate photograph just with close allies instead.This would allow him to avoid a row like that which accompanied his decision to meet and shake hands with his Iranian counterpart at the UN general assembly in New York in September. On Tuesday Mr Miliband was asked by Tory frontbencher Dame Harriett Baldwin if he would shake hands with Mr Lavrov if their paths cross in Georgia.He replied: 'We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years. 'As I have said throughout this session, we are absolutely clear about the need to counter the Russian hybrid threat.' The Foreign Secretary will not take part in the traditional image showing all 20 of them together at the event in Atlanta because Putin's burly henchman is attending On Tuesday Mr Miliband was asked by Tory frontbencher Harriett Baldwin if he would shake hands with Lavrov. He replied: 'We do not engage in that way with the Russians'The event could also see a wider row over support for Ukraine in Mr Lavrov's presence.The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said last night she would urge partners there and at a separate EU-Canada summit to strengthen support for Ukraine.She would also urge to advance accountability through the Special Tribunal and Claims Commission, writing on X: 'Russia must be accountable.'It came as former chancellor Rachel Reeves urged Brussels to seize control of £175billion in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine defend against Kremlin aggression in the face of 'a desperate winter'.In her first significant intervention since leaving Government, the Labour former Cabinet minister told the European Union that 'the time to act is now', with Kyiv confronting a funding black hole and Donald Trump seeking to pressure the embattled country 'to cut a deal with Moscow'.She warned without the funding Ukraine's 'capacity to sustain its defence will be gravely impaired', which in turn would 'undermine Europe's security'.Ms Reeves, who was sacked as chancellor by Andy Burnham when he took office, issued the rallying call for urgent action in an article in The Times penned along with three other senior politicians from Germany, France and Canada.It said: 'We are coming together to say we need to stand by Ukraine in its time of need.'A critical next step should be for the EU to take custody of the 210 billion euros of sovereign Russian assets it immobilised in 2022 so it can use them to help Kyiv in its defence.'The quartet pointed out the funding would be enough to bankroll Ukraine's defence into 2029.The article said: 'This eliminates the risk that elections in key EU member states next year may halt financial support for Kyiv.'The assets would also fund Ukraine's defence until after the next US presidential election, at which point Washington may be more supportive than it is today.'