Lavrov sidelined in Moscow?
Sergey Lavrov’s absence from the most recent Security Council meeting, along with his removal from leading Russia’s delegations to the G20 and ASEAN summits, signals a visible change in the Kremlin’s internal balance of power. Once a central architect of Moscow’s diplomatic strategy, Lavrov now seems increasingly marginalized as President Vladimir Putin consolidates tighter control over foreign policy decisions.
Signs of diminishing influence
For the first time in decades, Lavrov missed a Security Council session chaired by Putin. Officials described this as a “coordinated” absence, but the reassignment of his key roles to Maxim Oreshkin and Alexey Overchuk—both presidential technocrats—suggests more than a routine reshuffle. The Kremlin appears to be reinforcing its authority over international representation, reducing the foreign ministry’s freedom to shape messages abroad.
Consequences and internal tensions
Lavrov’s apparent decline comes shortly after the cancellation of a planned meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump in Budapest. Reports indicate that tensions arose following a tough exchange between Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as a Russian memorandum on Ukraine viewed in Washington as overly rigid.
“Some insiders now accuse Lavrov of mishandling the episode — or even undermining Putin’s diplomatic agenda,” the reports state.
In the rigid structure of Moscow’s power hierarchy, such missteps are seldom forgiven. Once considered an unshakable figure, Lavrov now faces the same political isolation that preceded the fall of former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Author’s Summary
Lavrov’s fading role illustrates President Putin’s tightening control over Russia’s diplomatic apparatus, leaving little room for independent foreign policy voices within the Kremlin.