Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor with Putin
Speculation about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov losing favor with President Vladimir Putin is unfounded, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on November 7.
"I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports," Peskov said during a media briefing. "Lavrov is working as the foreign minister, of course."
Context of the Speculation
Reports suggested Lavrov’s influence declined after a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly led to the cancellation of the planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S.
Despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, Lavrov was absent from a key meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, raising questions about his current influence in the Kremlin.
Changes in Diplomatic Roles
- Lavrov lost his position as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit.
- The delegation will be led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Details of the Cancelled Budapest Summit
Lavrov spoke with Rubio by phone on October 21 to discuss conditions for the summit. Following this, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Sources close to the negotiations told Reuters that the cancellation was due to the Kremlin’s inflexible position, demanding excessive concessions and rejecting a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath of the Summit’s Collapse
The summit was followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia since the President’s return to office. These sanctions targeted major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author's Summary
The Kremlin firmly denies rumors of Lavrov’s fall from grace, despite changes in his diplomatic roles and tensions surrounding the canceled U.S.-Russia summit.