Is Putin Losing Control of the Situation? Russia's Number Two Prime Minister Resigns, Citing Opposition to the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

On September 18, Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov confirmed to the media that Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak has resigned, and it was a voluntary resignation.

That evening, Putin signed an official order to remove him from his position.

At the same time, the New York Times in the United States reported that the real reason for Kozak's departure was not simple. He had expressed his opposition to the Ukraine-Russia conflict in private, believing it to be a wrong war.

The newspaper stated that Kozak was one of the core figures among Putin's trusted associates. His sudden departure revealed cracks within the Russian high-level leadership, and also prompted the outside world to reassess Putin's ability to control the political situation.

Kozak has always been a significant technical official in the Russian political arena.

Since the 1990s, when he worked in the St. Petersburg City Government with Putin, the two have collaborated for nearly thirty years. During Putin's administration, Kozak served as Vice Premier, Minister of Regional Development, and Head of Crimea Integration, and even in the early 2020s was given full authority to handle the Ukraine issue through negotiations. In short, as Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Kozak was a key figure in the prime minister's team, a true second-in-command who could independently take charge of major affairs.

He repeatedly tried to ease the Ukrainian situation through political and diplomatic means, but after the war broke out in 2022 and the hawks took full control, Kozak's fate of being marginalized was already sealed.

From a broader perspective, Kozak's departure is a symbolic turning point. His role is similar to that of a technical prime minister who can implement policies, negotiate, and take on responsibilities independently.

Now, with the complete exit of his faction, only figures like Patrushev, Shoigu, and Boltenikov, known for their hardline stances, are leading the policy direction. This means that Russia's future foreign strategy will become more aggressive, but it is unlikely to significantly affect Putin's influence.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843668247531536/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.