You're reading: Dmitry Peskov says Kulmukhametov to continue working in Contact Group for Ukraine in collaboration with Gryzlov

MOSCOW - The appointment of Russian Security Council permanent member Boris Gryzlov Russia's envoy to the Contact Group for Ukraine does not mean that Russia's special representative in the Contact Group, Foreign Ministry Special Ambassador Azamat Kulmukhametov, will leave this office, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

“Azamat Kulmukhametov will continue working in the Contact Group in collaboration with Boris Gryzlov,” Peskov told Interfax.

Earlier on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin had signed a directive on appointing Gryzlov Russia’s envoy to the Contact Group for settling the situation in Ukraine.

A Moscow-based source told Interfax that Gryzlov’s appointment was aimed at enhancing the work of the Russian expert team in the Contact Group. “The matter concerns political reinforcement,” he said.

“The team has been reinforced. Now Boris Gryzlov heads it, and all Russian experts will continue working under his guidance,” the source said.