Kremlin Denies Rift Between Putin and Lavrov Over Trump Meeting
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has refuted media claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a falling out regarding the cancellation of a proposed meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Hungary.
Cancellation of Trump-Putin Summit
The planned Trump-Putin summit was called off following a preparatory call between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which revealed little chance of progress toward peace in Ukraine and no likelihood of a ceasefire as the White House had requested.
“There is nothing true in these reports,” Peskov stated, according to the state news agency TASS. “Of course, Lavrov continues to serve as foreign minister.”
Context of the Peace Efforts in Ukraine
- Trump has been working to negotiate peace in Ukraine, having met with Putin in Alaska in August.
- Despite these efforts, Russia has both continued and intensified its military actions in Ukraine, causing frustration for Trump.
- The U.S. president aims to end the conflict through economic measures such as sanctions and secondary tariffs, complemented by diplomatic talks.
- The anticipated Budapest meeting was considered a potentially key step in these diplomatic efforts.
Lavrov's Absence from Security Council Meeting
This week, Lavrov did not attend an in-person meeting of the permanent members of the Security Council, where Putin ordered preparations for possible nuclear tests if the U.S. took certain actions.
An anonymous source told Russian newspaper Kommersant that Lavrov agreed to be absent from the meeting despite his permanent membership.
Author's summary: The Kremlin denies any conflict between Putin and Lavrov following the canceled Trump meeting, emphasizing ongoing diplomatic efforts amid continuing tensions in Ukraine.