Kremlin Denies Dispute Between Putin and Lavrov
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed media claims suggesting a fallout between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the cancellation of a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hungary.
Reasons Behind Meeting Cancellation
The proposed Trump-Putin summit was called off following a preparatory call between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussion indicated minimal chances for progress on peace in Ukraine, ruling out the White House’s demand for a ceasefire.
Trump’s Efforts and Challenges
President Trump, focused on brokering peace in Ukraine, previously met Putin in August in Alaska. However, Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, undermining Trump’s peace efforts.
U.S. Strategy and Budapest Meeting
The U.S. president aims to end the conflict through combined economic sanctions, including secondary tariffs, and diplomatic talks with Moscow. The Budapest meeting was viewed as a potentially crucial diplomatic opportunity.
Lavrov’s Status and Security Council Meeting
Addressing Lavrov’s absence from a recent in-person Security Council meeting on preparations for nuclear tests, Peskov confirmed Lavrov remains the foreign minister. An unnamed source revealed Lavrov agreed to skip the meeting, despite being a permanent council member.
“There is nothing true in these reports,” Peskov said, as cited by the state news agency TASS. “Of course, Lavrov continues to serve as foreign minister.”
According to Russian newspaper Kommersant, Lavrov’s absence was a voluntary decision.
Summary: The Kremlin refutes reports of a rift between Putin and Lavrov amid Ukraine peace talks, emphasizing ongoing diplomatic efforts despite canceled meetings and recent military escalations.