Russia’s new representative for truce talks arrives in Kyiv

Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov (C) addresses to media in the headquatters of United Russia Party during a nationwide parliamentary election on December, 4, 2011 in Russia (Getty Images)

Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov (C) addresses to media in the headquatters of United Russia Party during a nationwide parliamentary election on December, 4, 2011 in Russia (Getty Images)

Putin ally lands in Kyiv ahead of Minsk truce talks 

Boris Gryzlov, Russia’s new representative for the Trilateral Contact Group on conflict regulation in Ukraine, arrived in Kyiv on January 11. Boryspil International Airport officials confirmed his arrival.

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Internet users uploaded photos of what was purported to be the special Russian government plane. Online flight tracker flightradar24 showed that a special flight from Moscow had arrived in Ukraine’s capital.

There are currently no direct air flights from Russia to Ukraine, since both countries closed their airspace to each other’s airlines.

The purpose of Gryzlov’s official visit to Ukraine is unknown. Some analysts speculate the visit may be related to the upcoming meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group meeting scheduled in Minsk, Belarus on January 13.

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed ex-Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov as Russia’s representative for negotiating an end to fighting in east Ukaine from 2016 on.  

Read also Kremlin appoints new representative to Contact Group on Ukraine

Ukrainian parliament deputy and presidential spokesperson Iryna Herashchenko said last week that Ukraine’s position would not change no matter who would represent Russia at the Minsk negotiations.

Some experts do not share her optimism: they see Gryzlov’s appointment as Russia’s transition to direct control over the occupied Donbas area in eastern Ukraine.

The Trilateral Contact Group met on December 22, 2015 last time.


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