Many of the personnel changes announced recently by Russian President Vladimir Putin appear to be of little significance. However, there are indications that a major policy change towards Ukraine may be underway following reports that Putin has replaced his chief troublemaker Vladislav Surkov as Ukraine policy curator with trusted problem solver Dmitry Kozak.
Ever since 2014, Russian aggression against Ukraine has been commanded from Putin’s office. Initially, his two personal advisers for Eurasia, Surkov and Sergei Glazyev, were the prime movers. Surkov held the political portfolio, while Glazyev handled economic affairs.
