Deep disputes over wars in Ukraine and the Middle East overshadow the G20 meeting in the US -. Reuters. Experts and diplomats said vastly different approaches to resolving the wars could derail coordinated actions or statements at a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the world's largest economies in Atlanta. The participation of Sergey Lavrov increases the tensions. Even the traditional family photo is causing problems: some European officials are now offering two separate photos - one with Lavrov, one without him. As the G20 countries - Russia, China and many middle powers such as Brazil and India - struggle to overcome strategic competition between the United States and China, "the rift is much stronger than ever," said Heidi Karbo-Rediker, the State Department's chief economist during the Obama administration. "In the last decade, the G7 countries at least agreed on a coordinated platform before participating in the G20, but now we don't even have one," she added. Trump's recent decisions regarding Russia, including a deal to buy diesel and the lifting of some sanctions, may also affect the negotiations, along with Ukraine's problems with Starlink. "If we don't talk about it, then it's definitely the elephant in the room: the United States - and Trump in particular - has taken a very strong position against Vladimir Putin and against Ukraine," says Karbo-Rediker. Some countries may be seeking to avoid confrontation, including Canada, Mexico, India and others still negotiating trade deals with the United States, said a G20 diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Everyone is trying not to draw too much attention to themselves," says the source.

Deep disputes over wars in Ukraine and the Middle East overshadow the G20 meeting in the US -. Reuters. Experts and diplomats said vastly different approaches to resolving the wars could derail coordinated actions or statements at a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the world's largest economies in Atlanta. The participation of Sergey Lavrov increases the tensions. Even the traditional family photo is causing problems: some European officials are now offering two separate photos - one with Lavrov, one without him. As the G20 countries - Russia, China and many middle powers such as Brazil and India - struggle to overcome strategic competition between the United States and China, "the rift is much stronger than ever," said Heidi Karbo-Rediker, the State Department's chief economist during the Obama administration. "In the last decade, the G7 countries at least agreed on a coordinated platform before participating in the G20, but now we don't even have one," she added. Trump's recent decisions regarding Russia, including a deal to buy diesel and the lifting of some sanctions, may also affect the negotiations, along with Ukraine's problems with Starlink. "If we don't talk about it, then it's definitely the elephant in the room: the United States - and Trump in particular - has taken a very strong position against Vladimir Putin and against Ukraine," says Karbo-Rediker. Some countries may be seeking to avoid confrontation, including Canada, Mexico, India and others still negotiating trade deals with the United States, said a G20 diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Everyone is trying not to draw too much attention to themselves," says the source.