7/3/2023 0 Comments The cardinal of the kremlinWhen the rumors of Surkov's departure emerged last month, Aleksei Chesnakov – a Kremlin insider who is close to Surkov – was quoted as saying Surkov was leaving because of a Kremlin "change of course on Ukraine." In a nutshell, Surkov – known in Russia as "the gray cardinal" for his behind-the-scenes political machinations – has been replaced by Kozak, known as "the Cheshire Cat" for his inscrutability. "In his new role, Kozak is in charge and will continue to be in charge of Ukrainian issues," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow. It followed one week after an announcement that Dmitry Kozak, a deputy head of Putin’s administration, had been tapped as the Kremlin's point man on Ukraine. But some analysts are skeptical, suggesting that the change may be more a shift in symbolism and style than in substance.įollowing weeks of rumors that Surkov was leaving, the Kremlin on February 18 issued a terse decree making it official. His departure has sparked speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be ready for compromises with Kyiv and the West, and bodes well for an end to the war in the Donbas. After seven years overseeing the Kremlin's policy regarding Ukraine – a period which included Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region and the unleashing of a conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine that has left more than 13,000 people dead - Vladislav Surkov has been dismissed.
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