The Kremlin on Friday dismissed speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had fallen out of favor with Vladimir Putin after efforts to organize a summit between the Russian president and U.S. President Donald Trump were put on ice last month.
Lavrov, 75, a veteran Soviet-era diplomat known for his robust negotiating style, was absent from a big Kremlin meeting this week that he would typically attend, and Putin chose someone else to attend a G20 summit in South Africa later this month, a role that Lavrov has filled in the past.
For two weeks in a row the Foreign Ministry has also not disclosed Lavrov's travel plans and speaking engagements for the following week.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.