Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor After Summit Cancellation
Speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lost favor with President Vladimir Putin is false, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on November 7. During a briefing, Peskov said,
“I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports. Lavrov is working as the foreign minister, of course.”
Context of Speculation
The rumors arose following Lavrov's phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 21 to discuss terms for a planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. After the call, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Lavrov's Absences and Changes
- Lavrov, despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, was notably absent from a key meeting led by Putin on November 5, prompting questions about his standing.
- He also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, which this year will be led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Reasons Behind Summit Cancellation
Sources familiar with talks told Reuters the summit was canceled due to the Kremlin's inflexible stance, demanding excessive concessions and refusing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath
The summit’s collapse was quickly followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia since President Trump’s return to office, targeting major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
“The cancellation stemmed from the Kremlin's rigid negotiating stance,” Reuters reported.
Author’s summary: Despite rumors, Kremlin confirms Sergey Lavrov remains in Putin's favor amid diplomatic tensions and the fallout from a canceled U.S.-Russia summit.