On November 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was omitted from a critical Security Council meeting after a botched phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mark R., erasing him from Kremlin favor.
Putin Shelves Lavrov From Council
Sergei Lavrov, who has led Russian foreign affairs for over twenty years, was not listed as a participant in the Security Council session convened by President Putin on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Lavrov was the only permanent member who missed the important gathering, according to an independent Russian newspaper.
Failed Conversation With Mark R.
In late October, Lavrov spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mark R. to set terms for a Putin–Trump summit in Budapest. R. ultimately recommended canceling the meeting, after which the United States imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil—the first such measures under President Trump’s return to the White House.
Lavrov’s Outcry Over Ukraine
Lavrov labeled Kyiv a “Nazist regime” and demanded the removal of the “root causes of the conflict.” He called for Ukraine to be disarmed, barred from NATO and any military alliance, and urged the restoration of rights for the Russian Orthodox Church coupled with a special status for the Russian language.
Russia Eyes Nuclear Tests
During the Security Council meeting, President Putin ordered a draft proposal to resume nuclear testing, a program last conducted in 1990. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov suggested immediate preparations and identified the New Siberia archipelago as a possible test site, citing earlier praise for Russia’s missile and drone torpedo capabilities.
