Russia's foreign minister Lavrov cut out of Ukraine peace talks, officials say
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Sergey Lavrov, Russia's long-serving foreign minister and public face of Russian diplomacy, has been largely sidelined from key negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, with other Kremlin figures taking the lead.
- Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to President Putin, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, have become the primary architects and intermediaries in Russia's foreign policy and outreach to the U.S., respectively.
- Lavrov's hardline and often contradictory public statements have complicated diplomatic efforts and contributed to his diminished role, including his involvement in the collapse of a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest.
- Despite remaining in office and occasionally engaging with U.S. officials, Lavrov no longer plays a major role in shaping or conducting negotiations, with Washington and Kyiv focusing on other Russian interlocutors.
- Ukrainian officials view Lavrov's influence as minimal and see little value in engaging with him directly amid ongoing peace talks.