Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor with Putin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports suggesting that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. "There is nothing true in these reports," Peskov said during a briefing, affirming Lavrov's continued role as foreign minister.
Context of Speculation
The rumors emerged following a phone call between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 21, during which they discussed conditions for a planned summit in Budapest between Putin and the U.S. president. Shortly after, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Changes in Lavrov's Role
- Lavrov was absent from a crucial meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, prompting questions about his Kremlin standing.
- He lost his position as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit this year, replaced by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Reasons Behind Summit Cancellation
Sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the summit fell through because of the Kremlin's inflexible stance, demanding significant concessions and refusing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath
The canceled summit was soon followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia since President Trump’s return to office, targeting major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
"I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports," — Dmitry Peskov
Author’s summary: Despite rumors of a falling out, Kremlin confirms Lavrov remains in his role amid shifting diplomatic dynamics and a canceled U.S.-Russia summit.