Lavrov Reappears Publicly, Criticizes West, Eyes US Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov resurfaced publicly on Saturday after a weeks-long absence that fueled speculation about his standing within President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, delivering pointed criticisms of Western policies while signaling openness to dialogue with the incoming US administration.

Lavrov's reappearance came in an interview with the state news agency RIA Novosti, marking his first major public comments since late October. He addressed rumors of a rift with Putin, which had circulated following his exclusion from key meetings, including a Russian Security Council session on nuclear policy and the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa. The Kremlin dismissed these reports as baseless, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating on Friday that Lavrov "is working as Minister of Foreign Affairs" and that his absences were coordinated. Lavrov himself confirmed ongoing direct contact with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and expressed readiness for an in-person meeting to discuss bilateral ties and the Ukraine conflict.

The speculation about Lavrov's status intensified after a tense phone call with Rubio that derailed plans for a summit between Putin and US...