Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov fell out of favor with the Kremlin after an unsuccessful conversation with US Secretary of State Marko Rubio. After this meeting, it became clear that the planned summit of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump would not take place.
There is no room for mistakes in the Kremlin, especially in relations with Washington. A failed attempt at diplomatic maneuvering It cost Lavrov much more than anyone expected.
Lavrov, 76, who has headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over two decades, did not appear at the landmark meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, which took place on Wednesday, November 5.
During this meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council, which includes Lavrov, Putin ordered the development of a proposal to resume nuclear tests, which Russia last conducted in 1990.
A source from the Kommersant daily reported that “Lavrov's absence from the meeting was mutually agreed“However, it is worth noting that the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the only permanent member of the Security Council who missed this important meeting.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov speaks during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters. New York, USA, September 27, 2025SARAH YENESEL / PAP
Humiliation in front of the world
At the same time, Lavrov lost the status of head of the Russian delegation at this year's G20 summit. As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Thursday, November 6, the delegation will be headed by Maksym Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration. This decision was made personally by Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president himself has again decided not to fly to the G20 summit, which will be held in South Africa this year. The country is a signatory to the Rome Statute, [czyli międzynarodowej umowy ustanawiającej Międzynarodowy Trybunał Karny w Hadze]. Countries that have signed this document commit to full cooperation with the Court, including the arrest of requested persons. This means that South Africa has legal obligation to detain Vladimir Putinif he appeared on her territory.
This is yet another time when Putin avoids foreign summits for fear of legal consequences. In 2025, he did not fly to Brazil for the BRICS leaders' meeting, and in 2022 he resigned from participating in the G20 summit in Bali. In both cases, it was Lavrov who led the Russian delegation.
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A conversation that cost him the Kremlin's trust
An experienced diplomat, formerly Russia's permanent representative to the UN, had a telephone conversation with Rubio on October 21, in which he was supposed to agree on the terms of the future Putin-Trump summit in Budapest.
However, after an exchange with Lavrov, Rubio recommended that Trump cancel the meeting, and shortly thereafter, the United States imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies. It is worth adding that these were the first sanctions imposed by the US since Donald Trump's return to the White House.
According to Reuters sources, the reason for the breakdown of the talks was the unyielding attitude of the Kremlin, which “demanded too much” and refused to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Lavrov himself, after the failed conversation with Rubio, again resorted to rhetoric about the “Nazi regime” in Kiev and demanded to remove the “root causes of the conflict.” As he argued, an immediate ceasefire would only result in most of Ukraine remaining under the control of the “Nazi government” and the West would once again “inflate the Ukrainian army with weapons.” According to Lavrov, this would enable it to carry out “terrorist attacks” on Russian civilian infrastructure.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
