Senior Russian diplomat calls for patience with appointment of new ambassador to US

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov moved Wednesday to dismiss speculation over the difficulties in appointing a new Russian ambassador to the US, calling for patience.

In a statement published on the Foreign Ministry’s website, he refuted media reports claiming the ambassador was not appointed because he was approved by the Biden administration but was not issued a relevant official document.

“I'll put the dots on the i right away – the Joe Biden administration approved no new American ambassador. The process of appointing heads of diplomatic missions in both our country and the US requires time and certain procedures,” he stressed.

Ryabkov described the decision of the incumbent head of state, who makes a choice in favor of one or another candidate for the period of his term, as a “key factor,” pointing out that President Donald Trump has been busy with domestic appointments.

"It is the president’s prerogative to nominate a certain individual and submit his or her candidacy to the US Senate for approval. I think this will happen quite quickly, in coordination with the issuance of an agreement to the new Russian ambassador in Washington.

“Excessive fuss over this issue, as well as calls to rush into the arms of the new administration, are counterproductive and come from the false premise of the need to reach an agreement with the new team in the White House at any cost," he added.

Russia aspires for an honest partnership with the West, but in return, it was declared the West’s “geopolitical opponent” to be weakened as much as possible, said Ryabkov.

“Russia has been able to stand its ground and regain its rightful place in global geopolitics, upsetting the plans of the Joe Biden administration. As that policy failed and the administration changed, it is the US that should make the first step toward the normalization of bilateral relations, with a view to negotiations based on the principles of mutual respect and equality,” he said.

He reiterated Russia’s openness to dialogue and readiness to reach an agreement through “hard bargaining” that will acknowledge the realities on the ground and its national interests.

“It is up to Donald Trump and his team to make decisions and choices,” Ryabkov said.

On Oct. 10 last year, President Vladimir Putin relieved Anatoly Antonov of his role as ambassador to the US without naming a replacement. Antonov, 69, had held the position since 2017.

Antonov’s departure came at a time when relations between the two countries were at their lowest point in recent years.