Sergei Lavrov's Public Absence Sparks Speculation
Sergei Lavrov, the veteran Russian Foreign Minister, has not appeared in public since late October, leading to rumors about his standing with President Vladimir Putin. Despite speculation, the Kremlin denies that Lavrov has fallen out of favor.
Kremlin Response to Rumors
During a meeting with journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Lavrov remains in his official position. The Kremlin stated that Lavrov’s absence from a key meeting on November 5 was prearranged.
Reports on Lavrov’s Status
On November 6, The Moscow Times reported that Putin had sidelined Lavrov. The outlet linked Lavrov’s disappearance to the cancellation of a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump by the United States.
Recent Appearances and Absences
- Lavrov last appeared publicly on October 28 at an international conference on Eurasian security held in Minsk.
- He did not attend the Kremlin meeting on November 5, where Putin discussed the possibility of resuming nuclear weapons testing.
- Lavrov will not head the Russian delegation at this year’s annual G20 summit; instead, Deputy Chief of Staff Maxim Oreshkin will lead the delegation.
"Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov is still in office." — Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman
The Kremlin maintains that Lavrov’s absence and delegation changes are procedural rather than indicative of any political fallout.
Author’s summary: Despite Lavrov's absence from recent key events fueling speculation, the Kremlin confirms he remains Foreign Minister, dismissing rumors of a fallout with President Putin.
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