Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor After Trump Summit Cancellation
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected rumors that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to Russian media on November, Peskov stated:
“I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports. Lavrov is working as the foreign minister, of course.”
The denial followed reports suggesting Lavrov's influence diminished after his conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly led to the cancellation of a planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.
Signs of Lavrov’s Changed Standing
- Despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, Lavrov was absent from a key Kremlin meeting chaired by Putin on November 5.
- He also lost his position as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, now led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Background on Summit Cancellation
Lavrov spoke by phone with Rubio on October 21 to discuss terms for the Budapest summit. Following this, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters the summit fell apart due to the Kremlin’s rigid demands, including refusing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and requesting excessive concessions.
Aftermath
The summit's cancellation 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.
Author's summary: The Kremlin dismissed claims that Lavrov lost Putin’s favor after a cancelled summit with the U.S., despite changes in his diplomatic roles and tough negotiations causing the summit's failure.