Kremlin Denies Reports of Disagreement Between Putin and Lavrov
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed media claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a falling out over the cancellation of a proposed meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hungary.
Cancelled Trump-Putin Summit
The planned summit between Trump and Putin was called off following a preparatory call between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The call revealed little hope for progress on peace in Ukraine and confirmed that a ceasefire, as requested by the White House, was unlikely.
Recent Diplomatic Context
President Trump, who aims to mediate peace in Ukraine, met Putin in August in Alaska. Despite this, Russia has intensified its military actions against Ukraine, causing frustration for Trump.
Trump’s approach to ending the conflict involves a combination of economic sanctions and diplomatic efforts with Moscow. The cancelled Budapest meeting was perceived as a key opportunity in these efforts.
Peskov's Statements
“There is nothing true in these reports,” Peskov stated, according to the state news agency TASS.
“Of course, Lavrov continues to serve as foreign minister.”
Lavrov’s Absence at Security Council Meeting
Lavrov did not attend a recent in-person meeting of the Security Council’s permanent members, where Putin requested a report on preparations for nuclear tests, should the U.S. take certain actions.
An unnamed source told the Russian newspaper Kommersant that Lavrov voluntarily agreed to miss the meeting despite his status as a permanent council member.
Summary
The Kremlin firmly rejects reports of a dispute between Putin and Lavrov, emphasizing continued cooperation amid ongoing diplomatic challenges regarding Ukraine.
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