Lavrov sidelined after botched US negotiations undermine Putin’s strategy - Media

Lavrov Sidelined After Failed US Negotiations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reportedly lost favor following the collapse of a planned summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, as reported by The Moscow Times.

Botched Conversation with US Officials

Lavrov's decline in influence is linked to an unsuccessful conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which led to the summit's cancellation. This incident appears to have strained his relationship with President Putin.

Absence from Key Security Council Meeting

Russian media noted that Lavrov, 76, who has headed the Foreign Ministry for over two decades, did not attend a crucial Security Council meeting held by Putin on November 5. Lavrov was the only permanent member absent from the session, officially "absent by agreement."

At this meeting, Putin instructed officials to develop proposals to resume nuclear testing, an activity Russia last conducted in 1990.

Loss of G20 Delegation Leadership

Lavrov also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation to the G20 summit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that this year the delegation would be led by Deputy Chief of Staff Maksim Oreshkin. Peskov added that the appointment decision was made by Putin.

"Lavrov was 'absent by agreement' from the meeting, and notably, he was the only permanent member of the Security Council who skipped the important session."
"Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that this year the delegation will be led by Deputy Chief of Staff Maksim Oreshkin."

Author's summary: Sergey Lavrov's political influence appears diminished after key diplomatic failures, marked by his absence from critical meetings and loss of leadership roles in Russia's international negotiations.

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RBC-Ukraine RBC-Ukraine — 2025-11-07

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