Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor with Putin
Speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has lost favor with President Vladimir Putin is false, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on November 7. Addressing the rumors, Peskov stated:
“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 Rumors
The rumors arose following reports that Lavrov's influence declined after a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly contributed to the cancellation of a proposed Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.
- Despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, Lavrov was absent from a key meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, sparking questions about his Kremlin standing.
- He also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, which will be led this year by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Details of the Phone Call and Summit Cancellation
Lavrov discussed the terms of the Budapest summit with Rubio by phone on October 21. Following this, Rubio is reported to have advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that the summit’s collapse resulted from the Kremlin’s inflexible negotiating position, demanding excessive concessions and rejecting a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath
After the summit was called off, the U.S. introduced its first sanctions on Russia since the President’s return to office, targeting major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author’s summary: The Kremlin refutes claims of Lavrov’s diminished influence after the canceled U.S.-Russia summit, confirming he remains the active foreign minister despite recent political shifts and sanctions.