Lavrov sidelined in Moscow?
Sergey Lavrov’s absence from the recent Security Council meeting and his removal from leading Russia’s delegations to the G20 and ASEAN summits signal a notable shift in the Kremlin’s balance of power. Once a key architect of Russian foreign policy, Lavrov now appears marginalized as President Vladimir Putin centralizes control over international affairs.
Absence from the Security Council
For the first time in decades, Lavrov did not attend a Security Council session chaired by Putin. Official statements described his absence as “coordinated,” but the reassignment of his responsibilities to Maxim Oreshkin and Alexey Overchuk—both technocrats from the presidential administration—implies more than a routine reshuffle.
The Kremlin seems to be tightening its hold on global representation, curbing the foreign ministry’s independence in managing Russia’s narrative abroad.
Triggering Events
Lavrov’s diminishing role reportedly followed the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump in Budapest. Sources suggest that a tense exchange with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a Russian memorandum on Ukraine—viewed in Washington as “maximalist”—caused irritation within the Kremlin.
Internal Fallout
Some insiders now accuse Lavrov of mismanaging the situation or even undermining Putin’s diplomatic aims. Within Moscow’s power structure, mistakes rarely go unpunished. Lavrov, once regarded as a resilient statesman, now experiences the same isolation that preceded the fall of former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Author’s Summary
Lavrov’s exclusion from key international forums underscores the Kremlin’s pivot toward tighter presidential control and diminishing ministerial autonomy in foreign policy.