Borrell on Lavrov's participation in G20 summit: "At least this time he stayed and listened"

The Guardian reports that Borrell drew attention to the fact that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stayed in the room when Western countries criticized Russia – unlike the last G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Bali in 2022, when he stormed out.

“At least this time he (Lavrov – ed.) stayed and he listened. This is a small improvement but it’s important. I think it’s better than nothing,” Borrell said. 

The diplomat said that he would oppose any attempts to expel Russia from the G20 because “we have to keep ways of talking, or at least listening if not talking”.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit and assured him that the United States would continue to provide defense support to Ukraine.