Kremlin Denies Rift Between Lavrov and Putin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports suggesting that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost President Vladimir Putin’s trust after the cancellation of a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports," Peskov told Russian media during a briefing. "Lavrov continues his duties as foreign minister, of course."
His statement followed claims that Lavrov’s authority had weakened following a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. That exchange allegedly influenced the decision to call off the upcoming Budapest summit between Putin and Trump.
Lavrov’s absence from a Security Council meeting chaired by Putin on November 5 fueled further speculation about his position inside the Kremlin. Despite his permanent membership in the council, he was not present during the key session.
Additionally, Lavrov will not head the Russian delegation at this year’s G20 summit. Instead, Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration, will lead it. Lavrov had previously overseen the country’s representation at the event.
The October 21 phone call between Lavrov and Rubio reportedly covered preparations for the Budapest summit. Following that discussion, Rubio is said to have advised the U.S. president to withdraw from the meeting.
Sources told Reuters that the cancellation was primarily due to the Kremlin’s uncompromising negotiating approach, which included heavy demands and an outright rejection of a ceasefire in Ukraine. The summit’s collapse was soon followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia under Trump’s renewed presidency, targeting the oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author’s Summary
Peskov denied speculation about Lavrov’s declining influence, reaffirming his position amid reports linking the canceled Putin-Trump summit to rigid Kremlin negotiations and renewed U.S. sanctions.