The newly-appointed prime minister was born in 1978 in the west-central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia and began working when he was just 14.
Two years later the 16-year-old was already a commercial director of two private companies. However, it seems that both companies were owned by his father.
“Groysman’s father was an owner of Vinnytsia farmer’s market. And Groysman himself started his working career helping his father at the market. He has started if not “from the plough-tail,” then “from the counter,” Konstantin Zatulin, the director of the Russian Institute for CIS Countries, told RT.
Ukrainian media does not have much to say about Groysman’s career from 1995 to 2002, vaguely referring to his experience “at managing positions in commercial structures.”
Always the Youngest
The new high ranking official is educated in law and public administration. However before graduating from the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management in 2003, he was elected as Vinnytsia City Council deputy in 2002, becoming the youngest deputy at the age of 24.
Meanwhile, in 2010, Groysman graduated from the National Academy of State Administration with a specialty in Community Development Management, focusing on management at the local and regional levels.
He stayed in the position of mayor until February 2014, after being re-elected for a second term, and then moved to Kiev.
He claims it was Arseniy Yatsenyuk who offered him a vice prime minister seat in his new government.
Poroshenko's Man
“He could demonstrate solid management in Vinnytsia thanks to Poroshenko’s finances. He was always working with Poroshenko and for Poroshenko,” President of the Center for Systems Analysis and Forecasting Rostislav Ishchenko told RT.
According to Ukrainian media, Groysman’s family has been living in Vinnytsia for five generations.
Poroshenko has been developing his business in this city since the early 90’s. It was Vinnytsia where Ukraine’s “Chocolate king” bought the first of his notorious “Roshen” confectionary factories back in 1996.
In 2012, he opened another one there, and in 2014 Poroshenko continued through opening with a milk canning factory.
“Of course, it was Poroshenko, who brought him into power. If not for Poroshenko, Groysman would not have gone for the premiership,” says Rostislav Ishchenko.
Recent reports however suggested that Groysman has refused to be prime minister.
“Groysman is exchanging a good post for an attractive, but dangerous, one. He wouldn’t do it on his own, this is only in the interests of Poroshenko,” Ishchenko explains.
“Groysman’s refusals were not an attempt to skip the responsibility. It was great bargaining,” he added.
Some experts suggest that Groysman’s weakness as a new head of government lies in his lack of experience and lack of independence.
Ishchenko however regards it as an advantage.
“If the cabinet needs to vote for something, Groysman will ensure the voting and signing of documents. Poroshenko needs a person who will prevent the forming of a full-fledged power center, as it was with Yatsenyuk,” he adds.
With regards to Groysman’s political views, Konstantin Zatulin suggests that they are “unsubstantial”, as they “conform to the shape of the container where they currently exist.”
Most of the analysts say that the new prime minister is more convenient for Russia, however they don’t suggest any breakthroughs in Russian-Ukrainian relations are likely any time soon.
