Kremlin Denies Lavrov’s Fall from Favor After Cancelled Trump Summit
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. On November 7, Peskov told Russian media,
“I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports. Lavrov is working as the foreign minister, of course.”
This statement comes amid speculation that Lavrov's influence declined following a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. That discussion reportedly contributed to the cancellation of a planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.
Signs of Shifting Influence
- Lavrov was absent from a key Kremlin meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, raising questions about his position.
- He also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, which will instead be led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Details of the Cancelled Summit
On October 21, Lavrov held a phone call with Rubio to discuss the terms of the Budapest summit. Following that conversation, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the summit fell apart due to the Kremlin's rigid stance, which demanded excessive concessions and rejected any ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath
The summit's collapse was followed by the first U.S. sanctions against Russia since the U.S. president's return to office. These sanctions target major Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author's summary: Despite rumors, the Kremlin insists Sergey Lavrov remains in Putin's favor, even as shifts in his influence and summit cancellations point to complex diplomatic tensions.