Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor with Putin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports claiming that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. On November, Peskov stated to Russian media during a briefing:
“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 the Speculation
The rumors emerged following Lavrov's phone conversation on October 21 with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding terms for a Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president. Rubio reportedly advised canceling the summit afterward.
Sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the summit fell apart due to the Kremlin's inflexible stance, demanding heavy concessions and rejecting a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Changes in Lavrov's Role
- Lavrov was absent from a major meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, raising questions about his Kremlin standing.
- He also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, which is now led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Additional Developments
Following the summit's cancellation, the U.S. imposed its first sanctions on Russia since Trump's return to office, targeting oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Summary: Despite rumors, Kremlin affirms Sergey Lavrov remains foreign minister amid diplomatic shifts and summit cancellations linked to tough Kremlin positions and U.S. sanctions.