Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor After Trump Summit Cancellation
Speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov fell out of favor with President Vladimir Putin is false, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on November 8. He told Russian media during a briefing,
"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 follows reports that Lavrov's influence declined after a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly led to canceling the planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.
Despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, Lavrov was absent from a crucial meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, raising doubts about his position within the Kremlin. Additionally, he lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, which will instead be led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.
Details of the Biden-Rubio Talks and Summit Cancellation
- Lavrov spoke by phone with Rubio on October 21 to discuss terms for the Budapest summit.
- Rubio then reportedly recommended to the U.S. president that the meeting be canceled.
- Sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the cancellation resulted from the Kremlin’s inflexible stance, demanding excessive concessions and refusing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Aftermath of the Summit Collapse
The summit's cancellation was soon followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia since the President's return to office, targeting major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author’s summary: Despite rumors of Sergey Lavrov losing favor after the aborted summit, Kremlin officials confirm he remains in his position amid diplomatic tensions and U.S. sanctions.