Talk about Lavrov's Fall Out of Favor; Kremlin Denies Rumors
Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign policy veteran, has not been seen publicly since late October, sparking rumors that he may have fallen out of favor with President Vladimir Putin. However, the Kremlin has denied these speculations, affirming Lavrov remains in office.
Kremlin's Response
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, during a meeting with journalists, emphasized that Foreign Minister Lavrov continues to hold his position despite the rumors.
Media Reports and Rumors
The Moscow Times, an independent Russian media outlet based in the Netherlands, reported on November 6 that Lavrov had been sidelined by Putin. They linked Lavrov’s absence from public appearances to the last-minute cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump by the United States.
Putin had sidelined Lavrov, and the minister’s disappearance from the public eye was due to the sudden cancellation of a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Further fueling the rumors, Lavrov did not attend a Kremlin meeting on November 5, where Putin announced his consideration of resuming nuclear weapons testing.
Kremlin Explanation
According to official Kremlin statements, Lavrov’s absence from the November 5 meeting was planned in advance and not an indication of any falling out.
Recent Public Appearances and Delegation Changes
- Lavrov last appeared publicly on October 28, participating in an international conference on Eurasian security held in Minsk.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry website confirms this as his last public engagement.
- Lavrov, aged 76, will not lead the Russian delegation to this year’s annual G20 summit.
- Instead, the delegation will be headed by Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Maxim Oreshkin.
The Kremlin has announced that this year’s G20 delegation will be led by Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Maxim Oreshkin.
Author's summary: Despite rumors of diminishing influence, Sergei Lavrov remains Russia’s foreign minister, while key delegation roles shift amid his recent public absence.