Russia's War Against Ukraine
Anders Aslund: Gryzlov’s ascendancy suggests Putin may be ready to negotiate in Donbas
Russian President Vladimir Putin, then prime minister, shakes hands with former speaker of the parliament lower house , Boris Gryzlov, in a 2011 meeting. (AFP)
On December 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed one of his close, trusted aides, Boris Gryzlov, Russia's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, which concluded the two Minsk agreements on the Donbas in September 2014 and February 2015. This appointment suggests an important change in Russia's policy toward Ukraine. Gryzlov is a heavyweight in Putin's inner circle, a permanent member of its security council, former minister of interior, speaker of the State Duma, and a colleague of the President's from his St. Petersburg KGB days.
