Lavrov's absence sparks speculation he has fallen from favour with Putin

"Few things invite Kremlin-watching like the unexplained absence of a senior official. And Sergei Lavrov's no-show from a key Kremlin meeting last week has inevitably set off speculation about what may be shifting behind the scenes. Veteran foreign minister Lavrov, 75, was the only permanent member of the security council missing from last Tuesday's session, during which Vladimir Putin instructed officials to draw up proposals on the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing an absence the well-connected Kommersant newspaper said was agreed in advance."

"Taken together, the unusual decisions prompted Moscow to insist that nothing was amiss. Asked on Monday about rumours Lavrov had fallen out of favour with Putin, the Kremlin dismissed them as absolutely untrue, saying there was no need to pay attention and that everything is fine. Sergei Viktorovich continues to work, and he is actively at work, Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, using the minister's patronymic."

Sergei Lavrov missed a key Kremlin security council meeting where Vladimir Putin instructed officials to draft proposals on the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing. Lavrov, 75, was the only permanent security council member absent that Tuesday. Lavrov was also omitted from Russia's delegation to the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, replaced by a more junior official. Moscow publicly denied any problems, with Dmitry Peskov saying Lavrov continues to work and will appear at relevant public events. Media reports linked the absence to rumours of Putin's displeasure after a cancelled Trump-Putin summit and a tense call between Lavrov and US officials.

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