Kremlin Denies Lavrov Losing Favor After Cancelled Trump Summit
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed rumors that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had fallen out of favor with President Vladimir Putin, stating emphatically,
“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 comes after reports suggested Lavrov's influence had diminished following a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly contributed to the cancellation of the planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.
Notable Absences and Changes in Protocol
- Lavrov, despite being a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, was missing from a crucial meeting led by Putin on November 5.
- He also lost his position as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, with Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration, taking his place.
Details of the Rubio-Lavrov Call and Summit Cancellation
On October 21, Lavrov spoke with Rubio to negotiate terms for the Budapest summit. Following the conversation, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.
Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that the cancellation resulted from the Kremlin's inflexible demands, which called for excessive concessions and rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The summit's failure was quickly followed by the first U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia since the president’s return to office, targeting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.
Summary
The Kremlin firmly denies any fallout between Putin and Lavrov despite shifts in diplomatic roles and the collapse of a key summit with the U.S.
Author's summary: The Kremlin refutes claims that Lavrov lost favor with Putin after a canceled summit with the U.S., amidst tensions and shifting diplomatic roles following tough negotiations and subsequent sanctions.