Kremlin denies rift between Putin and Lavrov after canceled Trump summit
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed rumors that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had lost President Vladimir Putin’s trust following the canceled Budapest summit with the United States.
"I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports," Peskov told Russian media, adding that "Lavrov continues his work as foreign minister, of course."
The speculation arose after reports suggested Lavrov’s influence had diminished following his phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allegedly led President Trump to cancel the planned Putin–Trump meeting in Budapest.
Despite remaining a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, Lavrov did not attend a high-level Kremlin meeting chaired by Putin on November 5, prompting further questions about his political standing.
Additionally, Lavrov was replaced as head of Russia’s delegation to the upcoming G20 summit by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of the presidential administration.
According to earlier accounts cited by Reuters, the summit’s cancellation stemmed from the Kremlin’s uncompromising negotiating stance, which demanded excessive concessions and rejected a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine. Following the collapse of the talks, the United States imposed its first sanctions on Russia since President Trump’s return to office, targeting major oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
Author’s summary
The Kremlin refuted claims of a Putin–Lavrov conflict after the canceled U.S. summit, insisting Lavrov remains in office amid shifting diplomatic roles and rising tensions.