Putin Breaks Silence: No Conflict or Marginalization Between Us, Says Lavrov

Russian President Vladimir Putin shut down rumors about a rift with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, calling the speculation "nonsense" after weeks of media reports suggesting tensions between the two officials.

The rumors started after Lavrov spoke with his American counterpart Marco Rubio, which coincided with the cancellation of a planned Putin-Trump summit in Budapest and new sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies. Russian and Western media outlets began reporting that Putin was unhappy with his foreign minister's handling of the situation.

Things got worse when Lavrov missed a meeting Putin held with permanent members of Russia's Security Council. Media reports then claimed he was being sidelined from leading Russian delegations to upcoming G20 and ASEAN summits.

But Putin dismissed all of this on Thursday. "This is nonsense," he told Russian news agency TASS. He explained that Lavrov has his own schedule and keeps him informed about his activities, including preparations for meetings with American partners.

Lavrov himself seemed relaxed about the whole thing. When a reporter asked him about his recent "disappearance" on Friday, he smiled and joked: "I'm still missing even now." He made the comment before Putin's meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Kremlin.

The Kremlin already denied similar speculation earlier this month, rejecting claims that Lavrov had fallen out of favor after the failed Budapest summit arrangements.

This isn't the first time rumors have swirled around Lavrov's position. The 75-year-old has been Russia's foreign minister for years and has weathered various diplomatic storms. For investors and analysts watching Russian politics, these kinds of personnel rumors often reflect broader tensions in Moscow's foreign policy approach, especially regarding relations with the United States.

The timing matters here. Russia faces mounting economic pressure from sanctions, and any perceived instability in Putin's inner circle could signal deeper issues with the country's diplomatic strategy. But Putin's direct denial suggests he wants to project stability in his foreign policy team, particularly as Russia navigates complex relationships with both Western nations and regional partners.