MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russia has not yet received a response from the US to its inquiry with regard to an agrement for a new ambassador to Washington, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters.

"Not yet, but not much time has passed since our request for an agrement was sent," he noted.

In late November, Russian media outlets reported that Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North America Department Alexander Darchiev may become Russia’s new ambassador to the US, taking over for Anatoly Antonov who returned to Moscow, having been relieved of his duties as envoy by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree.

This information has not yet been officially confirmed. The Foreign Ministry told TASS that the nomination for the post of the head of the diplomatic mission has long been determined but no public comments will be provided. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the ambassador will be appointed in the near future.