There is no official list of which ministers Vladimir Putin considers "most reliable." In the Kremlin, such topics are usually "read" not with precise phrases, but with gestures and actions. Therefore, various speculations frequently appear in insiders and the media.
This time too: some publications referred to several ministers with the phrase "Putin's close circle." Such materials are often informal, so it is difficult to accept them as 100% true - but interesting for understanding the background.
Which ministers are being mentioned more often?
- Sergey Lavrov - is one of the longest-serving figures in foreign policy: he has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2004.
In recent months, there have been rumors that his "position has weakened," especially against the backdrop of the rumors surrounding the upcoming meeting in Budapest. However, the Kremlin openly denied these rumors: press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that "there is no truth in these reports."
- Andrey Belousov - the thesis around him is simple: the image of a technocrat, a controller, a "pure manager." Some international publications, citing a Kremlin source, wrote that Putin might consider it honest and free from corruption.
- Vladimir Kolokoltsev - has been the Minister of Internal Affairs since 2012. Even remaining in one position for a long time is interpreted as a sign of trust within the Kremlin.
- Anton Siluanov - one of the main names in the leadership of the Ministry of Finance since 2011. The idea that he is in the "close circle" also arises against the backdrop of this long experience.
- Konstantin Chuychenko - has been the Minister of Justice since 2020. It is also mentioned in various "trust lists."
What is being said about the other ministers?
Among those mentioned as "not close" in some analyses are names such as Anton Alikhanov, Mikhail Degtyarev, Mikhail Murashko, Maxim Reshetnikov, and Sergey Sivilev. Such estimates usually lead to a general prediction that "the chair might rock."
Why did these rumors increase even more in 2026?
In politics, "personnel" is always a signal. The absence of any minister, the emergence of other figures at meetings, or sharp rhetoric in a certain direction - all this raises the question "will there be rocking?" In particular, experts are already putting forward various scenarios about possible changes in the government in 2026.
The conclusion is one: this topic is currently more a field of "inside and interpretation." But the noise itself is not without reason - so it's worth observing the background around the above names.
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