And it is essential to create the indispensable preconditions for that, including staff changes. Chernomyrdin served as prime minister under former President Boris Yeltsin from 1992 until 1998. He is also the former head of Russia's natural gas monopoly, Gazprom. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has also admitted that Ukraine tapped gas from the Gazprom pipeline to Western Europe, confirming Russian suspicions. Chernomyrdin, who has close personal ties with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, has followed the issue closely in the past, both as prime minister and as Gazprom head.
Analysts agree that appointing an energy expert as ambassador is a definite plus.
I think he will add pragmatism and a practical approach to solving economic problems. Other analysts say that at a time when Ukraine has the attention of both its Western and Eastern neighbors, the appointment signals that Russia is serious about pulling the former Soviet republic back under its control. Kirill Frolov is a researcher at the CIS Institute, a think-tank that supports the return of Ukraine to Russia's sphere of influence. He says the appointment strengthens Gazprom's position in its dealings with the British-Dutch energy company Shell over control of Ukraine's gas pipeline to Western Europe. His appointment means that Gazprom is very serious in its intention to defend its positions.