Kostyantyn Gryshchenko

{{Hatnote|This article fails the Ukrainian National system of romanization (Romanization of Ukrainian)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Kostyantyn Gryshchenko

| image = Kostyantyn Hryshchenko Agência Brasil.JPG

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Gryshchenko in 2012

| office = Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine

| term_start = 24 December 2012

| term_end = 27 February 2014

| primeminister = Mykola Azarov

| predecessor = Volodymyr Semynozhenko

| successor = Oleksandr Sych

| office2 = 11th Minister for Foreign Affairs

| term_start2 = 11 March 2010

| term_end2 = 24 December 2012{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2012-12-24 |title=Yanukovych appoints new Cabinet of Ministers - Dec. 24, 2012 |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/yanukovych-is-appointing-new-cabinet-of-ministers-318086.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Kyiv Post}}

| primeminister2 = Mykola Azarov

| predecessor2 = Petro Poroshenko

| successor2 = Leonid Kozhara

| office3 = 20px {{ }} Ambassador of Ukraine to Russia {{ }} 20px

| term_start3 = 2008

| term_end3 = 2010

| president3 = Viktor Yushchenko

| predecessor3 = Oleh Dyomin

| successor3 = Volodymyr Yelchenko

| office4 = 5th Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 20px

| term_start4 = 2 September 2003

| term_end4 = 3 February 2005

| primeminister4 = Viktor Yanukovych

| predecessor4 = Anatoliy Zlenko

| successor4 = Borys Tarasiuk

| office5 = 20px {{ }} 6th Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States {{ }} 20px

| term_start5 = January 2000

| term_end5 = September 2003

| president5 = Leonid Kuchma

| predecessor5 = Anton Buteyko

| successor5 = Mykhailo Reznik

| office6 = 20px {{ }} Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium {{ }} 20px

| term_start6 = 1998

| term_end6 = 2000

| president6 = Leonid Kuchma

| predecessor6 =

| successor6 = Volodymyr Khandohiy

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1953|10|28}}

| birth_place = Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

| signature = Kostyantyn Hryshchenko Signature 2014.png

| native_name_lang = uk

| native_name = {{nobold|Костянтин Грищенко}}

}}

Kostyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko (also spelled Hryshchenko; {{langx|uk|Костянтин Іванович Грищенко}}; born 28 October 1953) is a Ukrainian diplomat and politician.

Since Ukraine gained independence, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko has served in a succession of senior positions with responsibilities ranging from arms control and regional security to education and public health. He served as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine (2012–2014), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2003–2005 and 2010–2012) and First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (2008–2010).{{cite web|title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|url=http://mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/614|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084259/http://mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/614|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

Ambassadorial appointments include: Head of Mission of Ukraine to NATO and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (1998–2000), Ambassador to the United States (2000–2003) and Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2008–2010).

In addition to his posts in the Ukrainian Government, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko participated in personal capacity in a number of high-profile bodies focused chiefly on various aspects of regional and international security: 1991 –Deputy Chief Inspector for biological weapons of the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq (UNSCOM); 1995–1998 –Member of Council of Founders, Geneva Center for Security Policy; 1999–2003 Member of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters to the UN Secretary General (in 2003 –Chairman of the Board);{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/disarmament/HomePage/AdvisoryBoard/38th_Session/PDF/2002_Members.pdf|title=Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters – UNODA}} 2000–2003 –Member, United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)https://www.un.org/depts/unmovic/new/documents/s-2000-207.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} and 2003–2006, Member of the Board of Directors of Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.{{Cite web|url=http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/645/96|title=Про присвоєння К. Грищенку дипломатичного рангу Надзвичайного і Повноважного Посла України}}

Education

In 1975 Kostyantyn Gryshchenko graduated with honors from Moscow State Institute of International Relations with a specialty in international law. Besides his native Ukrainian and Russian languages he is fluent in English and French.

Professional activity

1976–1980 –served as staff member of the United Nations Secretariat in New York City.{{efn|Yuri Drozdov was KGB resident at the United Nations as the Soviet Union's deputy representative to United Nations from 1975–1979.{{cite news |title=Soviet spymaster Yuri Drozdov dies at 91 |url=https://apnews.com/701fec10171c49c7b8bb3280db34d59a |work=Associated Press |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=23 January 2020}}{{cite news |last=Kishkovsky |first=Sophia |title=Yuri Drozdov, Soviet Superspy Who Planted 'Illegals' in Other Countries, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/world/europe/yuri-drozdov-dead-soviet-superspy.html |newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 July 2017 |access-date=23 January 2020}} In 1978, Arkady Shevchenko, a Soviet diplomat at the United Nations, defected to the United States and was debriefed by Aldrich Ames.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/03/12/soviet-defector-arkady-shevchenko-dies/3fc5f474-e7b7-4d1c-b6f2-e565dfa1ef22/ |title=SOVIET DEFECTOR ARKADY SHEVCHENKO DIES|newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Bart |last=Barnes |date=12 March 1998 |access-date=23 January 2020}}}}

1981–1991 –held various diplomatic positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union Kostyantyn Gryshchenko returned to Kyiv where he took up work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of newly independent Ukraine.

1995–1998 –Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Указ Президента України від 09 березня 1995 № 196/95 "Про призначення К.Грищенка заступником Міністра закордонних справ України" http://search.ligazakon.ua/l_doc2.nsf/link1/U196_95.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531164901/http://search.ligazakon.ua/l_doc2.nsf/link1/U196_95.html |date=31 May 2015 }} with responsibilities covering arms control and disarmament, European security, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russian Federation, Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Pacific region. He played a key role in negotiating a number of crucial international agreements aimed at strengthening the independence, territorial integrity and security of Ukraine. During this time Kostyantyn Gryshchenko initiated a large scale program for professional diplomatic training for newly recruited MFA personnel in a number of the EU countries and in the United States. Many of the graduates later became leading diplomats in the Ukrainian diplomatic service.

1998–2000 – Head of Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Ambassador of Ukraine to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg,{{Cite web |title=Про призначення К. Грищенка Надзвичайним і Повноважним Послом України в Королівстві Бельгія та Главою Місії України при НАТО за сумісництвом |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/869/98 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.

2000–2003 – Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States{{Cite web |title=Про призначення К. Грищенка Надзвичайним і Повноважним Послом України в Сполучених Штатах Америки |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/107/2000 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} and in 2001 non-resident Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda.

2003–2005 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Про призначення К. Грищенка Міністром закордонних справ України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/956/2003 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}}

His policy priorities as Foreign Minister were European integration, strengthening ties with Washington and enhancing pragmatic cooperation with Russia. In 2003 he publicly opposed joining the Common Economic Space with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. He, along with other members of the Cabinet, argued that membership in this institution would contradict the Ukrainian Constitution.{{Cite web |title=Виктор Ющенко: соглашение по ЕЭП — измена национальным интересам Украины |url=https://zn.ua/politcs_archive/viktor_yuschenko_soglashenie_po_eep__izmena_natsionalnym_interesam_ukrainy.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Зеркало недели {{!}} Дзеркало тижня {{!}} Mirror Weekly |language=ru}}

During the Ukrainian-Russian Tuzla crisis in 2003 he engaged all diplomatic tools at his disposal to counter Moscow's attempts to challenge Ukraine's territorial integrity and return to normal relations with Russian Federation.{{Cite news |date=2003-10-30 |title=Киев и Москва не договорились о Тузле |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/news/newsid_3228000/3228727.stm |access-date=2025-03-18 |language=en-GB}}

2006–2007 – Foreign Policy Adviser to Prime Minister of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Про призначення Грищенка К.І. радником Прем'єр-міністра України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1411-2006-%D0%BF |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}}

After snap parliamentary elections in 2007 Kostyantyn Gryshchenko joined the Opposition Government as a shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs.

With deepening political crisis in the Ukrainian-Russian relations President Victor Yushchenko in April 2008 appointed Kostyantyn Gryshchenko First Deputy Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council(NSDC){{Cite web |title=Про призначення К. Грищенка Першим заступником Секретаря Ради національної безпеки і оборони України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/355/2008 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} and in July – Ambassador to the Russian Federation.Указ Президента України від 10 червня 2008 року № 531/2008 "Про призначення К. Грищенка Надзвичайним і Повноважним Послом України в Російській Федерації" {{cite web |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/7984.html |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 531/2008 - Офiцiйне представництво Президента України |access-date=2015-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711161809/http://president.gov.ua/documents/7984.html |archive-date=11 July 2014}} Kostyantyn Gryshchenko continued serving as First Deputy Secretary of the NSDC giving Ukraine's Ambassador to Russia a special status that signaled the concern of the senior leadership over Ukrainian-Russian relations.

The main credo of the Ukrainian Ambassador in Moscow was expressed in his program article "Ukraine–Russia: the person and the state" in the Ukrainian weekly magazine "Zerkalo Nedeli":"…the source of many conflicts and contradictions in the Ukrainian-Russian relationshipis rooted in one basic fact: in the years after collapse of the USSR, while sharing many common interests, we drifted apart on how we perceive our future social development and our values. Acceptance of these objective differences has to hold both Moscow and Kyiv and prevent us from attempts to teach each other, and to impose on our neighbor our own model as only true one".Константин Грищенко. Украина–Россия: человек и государство// ЗеркалоНедели. –6 ноября 2009 / http://gazeta.zn.ua/POLITICS/ukraina__rossiya_chelovek_i_gosudarstvo.html

During a TV duel with Dmitry Rogozin (then Russian Ambassador to NATO) Kostyantyn Gryshchenko stated that in Russia unacceptable ideology for developing normal Ukrainian-Russian relations is being imposed on society. He insisted that contentious issues need to be discussed in order to be resolved and thereafter agreements have to be consistently implemented, rather than aggravating them thus creating basis for future conflicts. As to the prospect of Ukraine's accession to NATO he replied that there is no realistic chance of it happening in foreseeable future, but, in any case, the direction of foreign policy of Ukraine will be decided only by the Ukrainian people and not by Moscow, Washington or Brussels.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82rwHPbntL0 | title=- YouTube | website=YouTube }}

After the presidential election in 2010 KostyantynGryshchenko was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs for the second time.{{Cite web |title=Про призначення Грищенка К.І. Міністром закордонних справ України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1969-17 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}}

In spring 2010, the newly appointed foreign minister embarked on a challenging mission to calm increasingly tense relations between Kyiv and Moscow. He pursued pragmatic policy course focusing on areas where cooperation would yield better results for both parties than conflict. With this approach Ukrainian exports to Russia almost doubled, a long-delayed demarcation of the land border between the two countries was implemented. By mitigating tensions between the two neighbors the Foreign Ministry eased administrative and police pressure on millions of Ukrainians in Russia. The détente in relations with Russia made it possible to persuade cautious Europeans to move forward with an ambitious Association Agreement with Ukraine.

The lifting of travel barriers for Ukrainian citizens was another priority. Under Kostyantyn Gryshchenko's guidance Ukrainian diplomats managed to negotiate visa free travel regimes with Israel,{{Cite web|url=http://news.liga.net/ua/news/old/519434-mzs-nagadu-ukra-ntsyam-pro-bezv-zoviy-rezhim-z-zra-lem.htm|title = МЗС нагадує українцям про безвізовий режим з Ізраїлем|date = 25 January 2011}} Turkey,{{Cite web|url=http://tyzhden.ua/News/48540|title = Кабмін затвердив угоду про безвізовий режим з Туреччиною| date=25 April 2012 }} Brazil,{{cite web | url=http://zik.ua/ua/news/2011/12/30/326681 | title=Just a moment | access-date=31 May 2015 | archive-date=13 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413035112/http://zik.ua/ua/news/2011/12/30/326681 | url-status=dead }} Argentina.{{Cite web |url=http://tsn.ua/svit/ukrayina-i-argentina-domovilisya-pro-bezvizoviy-rezhim.html |title=Україна і Аргентина домовилися про безвізовий режим - Новини світу на 1+1 - Сторінка новини - ТСН.ua |access-date=31 May 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235102/http://tsn.ua/svit/ukrayina-i-argentina-domovilisya-pro-bezvizoviy-rezhim.html |url-status=dead }}

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko articulated Ukraine's foreign policy at the time as follows:

"Ukraine’s European policy has to be the priority, but has to be pragmatic. We need to understand that Ukraine undoubtedly has a European vocation, but in the current international reality Ukraine –in order to reach this goal –will have to steer its way forward quite differently from the new EU member states. It will be a path of internal transformation consistent with the European norms, in strategic partnership with the European Union and Russia, but also through development of cooperation with the regions of the world where we see dynamic economic development,a proactive desire to cooperate with Ukraine and respect for our national aspirations".{{Cite web |title=Стратегическое равновесие как шанс Украины в многополярном мире |url=https://zn.ua/internal/strategicheskoe_ravnovesie_kak_shans_ukrainy_v_mnogopolyarnom_mire.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Зеркало недели {{!}} Дзеркало тижня {{!}} Mirror Weekly |language=ru}}

Among his main achievements during this period were the completion of negotiations of the Association Agreement with the EU in 2012 and finalization of the plan for a visa-free regime with the EU. Economic diplomacy was given a special priority. Formerly separate and inefficient trade missions were fully integrated into embassies and newly established Council of exporters established under the MFA auspices started to play an important role of promoter for Ukrainian goods and companies in international markets.

In December 2012 Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was named Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine by Viktor YanukovychУказ Президента України від 24 грудня 2012 року № 751/2012 "Про призначення К.Грищенка Віце-прем'єр-міністром України" {{cite web |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/15262.html |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 751/2012 - Офiцiйне представництво Президента України |access-date=2015-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708201453/http://president.gov.ua/documents/15262.html |archive-date=8 July 2014}} and became the first Foreign Minister in Ukraine's history tapped to leverage his international experience to address domestic social issues. His portfolio included science and education, health care, culture, youth and sports.

Among his priorities were strengthening of drug quality oversightКонстантин Грищенко: "В фармацевтическом бизнесе огромная морально-этическая составляющая. Кто этого не понимает, рано или поздно выйдет из игры"// Факты и комментарии/ http://fakty.ua/170114-Kostyantyn-gricshenko-v-farmacevticheskom-biznese-ogromnaya-moralno-eticheskaya-sostavlyayucshaya-kto-etogo-ne-ponimaet-rano-ili-pozdno-vyjdet-iz-igry{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (EU medicine standards were implemented in 2013 for circulation of medicines good manufacturing practice (GMP) and appropriate practice of distribution (GDP) of drugs). Ukraine became the first country to ratify the Convention of the Council of Europe on counteraction of falsification of medicines and similar crimes which bear threat to public health –the Medicrime Convention and the first post-Soviet state to introduce criminal liability for falsification of drugs. Serious steps were taken to simplify access to anesthetizing medicines for terminal patients. Priority attention was paid to improve availability of medical care (development of a network of institutions of primary link and reforming system of emergency medicine), as well as adoption of the draft of Nationwide target social program of counteraction to HIV/AIDS for 2014–2018.К. Грищенко назвав основні здобутки галузі охорони здоров'я за 2013 рік http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/publish/article?art_id=246941677

As Vice Prime Minister, though not directly responsible for foreign policy, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was on a number of occasions called upon to help Ukrainian citizens in distress. In July 2013, on a challenging mission to Tripoli, Libya he secured release of 19 Ukrainians held hostage by anti-government armed militia in the port of Benghazi.{{Cite web |title=Лівійці звільнили 19 українських моряків із судна Етель |url=https://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/events/1597595-livijci-zvilnili-19-ukrayinskih-moryakiv-iz-sudna-etel |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=ua.korrespondent.net |language=ru}}

He was dismissed from his position as member of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 27 February 2014 by decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Про звільнення з посад членів Кабінету Міністрів України |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/801-18 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}}

In July 2022, Ukrainian law enforcement stated that former Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and former Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych were under suspicion of high treason for their role in the signing of the Kharkiv Pact with Russia.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-25 |title=Suspicions over Black Sea Fleet agreement with Russia filed in absentia against Ukraine's former FM, justice minister |url=https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/81594/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=interfax.com}} The suspicions were filed in absentia, as the two were "hiding abroad".{{Cite web|title=Двох міністрів Януковича по справі "Харківських угод" оголошено в розшук|url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/dva-ministra-nukovicha-delu-harkovskih-soglasheniy-1658842172.html|website=РБК-Украина|accessdate=2022-07-27|language=ru}}

Awards and honors

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was awarded the Order of Merit (third, second{{Cite web |title=Про нагородження К. Грищенка орденом "За заслуги" |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1229/2003 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}} and first classУказ Президента України від 28 жовтня 2013 року "Про нагородження К. Грищенка орденом "За заслуги" {{cite web |url=http://president.gov.ua/documents/16156.html |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 584/2013 - Офiцiйне представництво Президента України |access-date=2015-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020203300/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/16156.html |archive-date=20 October 2014}}) for personal valuable contributions to diplomacy and foreign affairs in Ukraine, and also received Honorary Diplomas of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2001, 2003), and VerkhovnaRada of Ukraine. He was awarded National Order of the Legion of Honour and also received a number of decorations from other foreign states.