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 lost favor with President Vladimir Putin. During a briefing, Peskov told Russian media,

“I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports.”

He confirmed that Lavrov continues to serve as foreign minister.

Background of Speculation

The rumors emerged after reports that Lavrov’s influence declined following a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This call reportedly contributed to the cancellation of the planned Budapest summit between Putin and the U.S. president.

Lavrov's Recent Absences and Changes

Lavrov was absent from a key meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, prompting questions about his role within the Kremlin.
He lost his position as head of Russia's delegation at the G20 summit, which will now be led by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration.

Details on the Cancelled Budapest Summit

Lavrov and Marco Rubio spoke by phone on October 21 to discuss terms for the summit. Afterwards, Rubio reportedly advised the U.S. president to cancel the meeting.

Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters the cancellation was due to the Kremlin's rigid stance, demanding excessive concessions and refusing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Aftermath: U.S. Sanctions on Russia

The summit's collapse was soon followed by the first U.S. sanctions on Russia since the president's return to office. The sanctions targeted Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.

Author's summary: Despite speculation around Sergey Lavrov’s standing after a canceled summit, the Kremlin affirms his ongoing role while shifts in Russia’s diplomatic representation signal internal adjustments.

The Kyiv Independent — 2025-11-07