Lavrov Falls Out of Favor with Putin Over Disrupted US Talks
The foreign minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, reportedly lost favor with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to The Moscow Times citing Russian media sources.
Security Council Meeting and Nuclear Test Proposal
On November 5, a meeting of the Russian Security Council took place in Moscow where Putin ordered work on proposals to resume nuclear tests. Lavrov was notably absent and was the only permanent member of the Security Council not attending.
Lavrov "was absent by agreement," an unnamed source told Kommersant, without clarifying the reason.
Changes in Russian G20 Delegation Leadership
The day before, RBC reported that Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin will lead the Russian delegation to the G20 summit in South Africa later in November. Previously, this role had always been filled by the Foreign Minister.
The Kremlin confirmed the decision was made personally by Putin, who again plans to skip the G20 summit.
Political Context of the G20 Summit
The summit’s location in South Africa is politically sensitive, as it is a signatory to the Rome Statute and obligated to arrest Putin under an International Criminal Court warrant.
Possible Reasons for Lavrov’s Decline
The Moscow Times suggests Lavrov’s fallout might be linked to the disappointing outcomes of Russia’s negotiations with the United States regarding Ukraine.
"Lavrov could have fallen out of favor with Putin because of the unsatisfactory results of Russia's talks with the United States over Ukraine."
These developments signal a shift in internal Russian political dynamics and international representation.
Author's Summary: Sergey Lavrov’s absence at key meetings and replacement as G20 head show his declining influence amid Putin's strategic shifts and poor US negotiations results.