Kremlin Denies Dispute Between Putin and Lavrov Over Trump Meeting
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected media claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a disagreement with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the cancellation of a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hungary.
Cancellation of Trump-Putin Summit
The proposed Trump-Putin summit was called off following a preparatory phone call between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It became clear from the conversation that little progress toward peace in Ukraine could be expected, and no ceasefire, as the White House demanded, would be agreed upon.
Context of the Ukraine Conflict
Trump, who is attempting to mediate peace in Ukraine, met with Putin in Alaska in August. However, Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, which has frustrated Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
U.S. Efforts to End the War
The U.S. President is pursuing an approach that combines economic measures, such as sanctions and secondary tariffs, with diplomatic negotiations with Moscow. The Budapest meeting was viewed as a potentially crucial step in this process.
“There is nothing true in these reports,” Peskov said, originally in Russian, according to the state news agency TASS. “Of course, Lavrov continues to serve as foreign minister.”
Lavrov's Absence from Security Council Meeting
Lavrov was notably absent from a recent in-person Security Council meeting of permanent members, where Putin ordered a report on preparations for nuclear tests in response to U.S. actions. An unnamed source told Russian newspaper Kommersant that Lavrov had agreed to miss the meeting despite his permanent membership on the council.
Summary
The Kremlin firmly denies any rift between Putin and Lavrov, emphasizing ongoing cooperation amid complex diplomatic efforts surrounding Ukraine and U.S. relations.