Kremlin denies Lavrov fell out of favor with Putin after canceled Trump summit

Kremlin Denies Lavrov Fell Out of Favor with Putin

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed rumors that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. Speaking on November 7, Peskov said,

“I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports. Lavrov is working as the foreign minister, of course.”

Context of the Speculation

The rumors surfaced after reports suggested Lavrov's influence declined following a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 21. The call allegedly influenced the cancellation of a planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.

Lavrov’s Recent Absences and Changes

Lavrov was notably absent from a key Kremlin meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, leading to speculation about his standing.
He also lost his role as head of the Russian delegation at the G20 summit, replaced by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.

Reasons Behind the Summit Cancellation

According to sources familiar with the situation, the summit was canceled due to the Kremlin’s uncompromising negotiating position. It demanded extensive concessions and rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine, prompting Rubio to advise the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.

Aftermath

The summit cancellation was quickly 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 firmly denies Lavrov's fall from grace despite his absence at key events and the Budapest summit cancellation linked to tough Russian demands and U.S. sanctions.

The Kyiv Independent — 2025-11-07