14 Facts About Kostyantyn Gryshchenko

Kostyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko 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.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko served as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

In 1975 Kostyantyn Gryshchenko graduated with honors from Moscow State Institute of International Relations with a specialty in international law.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko played a key role in negotiating a number of crucial international agreements aimed at strengthening the independence, territorial integrity and security of Ukraine.

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.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko 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.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko pursued pragmatic policy course focusing on areas where cooperation would yield better results for both parties than conflict.

In December 2012 Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was named Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine by Viktor Yanukovych and became the first Foreign Minister in Ukraine's history tapped to leverage his international experience to address domestic social issues.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko's portfolio included science and education, health care, culture, youth and sports.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko 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.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was awarded the Order of Merit for personal valuable contributions to diplomacy and foreign affairs in Ukraine, and received Honorary Diplomas of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and VerkhovnaRada of Ukraine.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was awarded National Order of the Legion of Honour and received a number of decorations from other foreign states.