By Kyiv Post
Copyright kyivpost
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) considered that the removal of Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a result of repeated disagreements with the Kremlin leader over the full-scale invasion and war with Ukraine.
Kozak, who hails from Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region, was previously seen as a key architect of the Kremlin’s policy toward Kyiv.
ISW reported on Sept. 17 that Kozak had pushed for negotiations with Ukraine, including the making of a deal early in the war to prevent Kyiv from joining NATO. Putin rejected the proposal, insisting on annexing Ukrainian territory. Kozak also reportedly advised Putin to end the fighting and begin peace talks in recent months.
Kozak “resigned” around Sept. 13 or 14 and is now said to be considering business offers. Russian political analysts noted that Kozak was the only participant in the February 2022 Security Council meeting who opposed launching the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.
According to ISW Kozak had reportedly brokered a deal with Ukraine at the start of the war that would have prevented Ukrainian membership of NATO, which Putin rejected it since he was dead set on annexing Ukrainian territory.
Putin signed a decree on Aug. 29 abolishing departments Kozak oversaw, which was seen as preparation for his removal. The move also strengthens the position of Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko, who has taken over Kozak’s responsibilities towards Ukraine and Moldova.
Kozak was previously one of Putin’s closest advisers and oversaw the Kremlin’s strategy in Ukraine before the Kremlin handed that responsibility to Kirienko in 2022.
ISW concluded that Putin’s decision to remove one of his closest aides ,after he advocated for peace, signals the Kremlin’s determination to continue its war in Ukraine and to rally around Putin’s maximalist war aims.
In April 2021, Dmitry Kozak issued blatant threats against Ukraine, warning that if Kyiv reignited fighting in Donbas it would mark “the beginning of the end” for the country. He also mocked Ukrainian politicians as “children playing with matches.”
Dmitry Kozak has been a close ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin since the 1990s. After serving as deputy prime minister for 12 years, he became deputy head of the Kremlin administration in 2020, responsible for oversight of relations with CIS countries.
Kozak also reportedly advised Putin to pursue “uncomfortable” reforms, including the creation of an independent judiciary.
