Analysts and those who knew him say that Ushakov has eclipsed Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to become Russia’s most powerful foreign policy adviser. Mere days before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ushakov dismissed fears over Russia’s military buildup as “hysteria.” While many details of his biography remain unclear, some basic facts are apparent. He was given charge of a department overseeing Russia’s relations with Western political organizations including the European Union, NATO and OSCE. In an effort to retain control over Russia’s foreign affairs, he created a new foreign policy post in his cabinet and brought in Ushakov to fill it. “It seems clear to me that he plays a much greater role in the formulation of Russia’s foreign policy than, say, Lavrov, who has more or less been sidelined from key decisions,” he said.