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US Senate confirms John Sullivan as Ambassador to Russia

On October 17, US President Donald Trump nominated John Sullivan to be US Ambassador to Russia

John Sullivan AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

John Sullivan

© AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

WASHINGTON, December 12./TASS/. The US Senate confirmed on Thursday Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan as the next US Ambassador to Russia.

As many as 70 senators voted to confirm Sullivan, while 22 voted against.

Read also

US Senate committee supports Sullivan’s appointment as ambassador to Russia

On April 11, 2017, US President Donald Trump nominated Sullivan for the office of US Deputy Secretary of State. At the hearing at the Senate, Sullivan vowed to take a hard line on Russia, strongly opposing Crimea’s reunification with Russia and accusing Moscow of meddling in the US presidential election in 2016. He called for a "robust" response to Moscow’s "intrusion into our democracy."

Sullivan served as acting secretary on April 1-26, 2018 after Rex Tillerson’s resignation. In July 2019, Sullivan led the US delegation at the talks with Russia on strategic security in Geneva.

On October 17, Trump nominated Sullivan to be US Ambassador to Russia. On November 20, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved Sullivan as the country's ambassador to Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Tuesday that he would be glad to cooperate with John Sullivan. "We know him as a highly professional and experienced diplomat, and will be glad to cooperate with him," Lavrov said.

Russia’s top diplomat expressed hope that Washington would demonstrate a similar attitude to Russia’s US ambassador, Anatoly Antonov.

Military operation in Ukraine

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Russia's liberation of Stepanovka in DPR spells trouble for Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo

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Zelensky tried to dissuade Scholz from telephone talks with Putin — news agency

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Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

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Scholz's call to Putin speaks of intention to learn Russia's position firsthand — Kremlin

The conversation took place at the initiative of the German side

Abkhazian president leaves capital after opposition’s ultimatum

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Ukraine fires 57 munitions at Russia’s Belgorod Region in 24 hours

A social facility, a car and a power line were damaged

Abkhazian president’s office says investment agreement with Russia not revoked

Aslan Bzhania has not signed the document

Blast occurs at Udmurtia facility, preliminarily due to drone

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Foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side near Kupyansk, says military expert

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Russian forces capture 10 km of LPR border — military expert

On October 16, Andrey Marochko informed TASS that Ukrainian forces were still operating near three key towns in the LPR’s west: Svatovo, Kremennaya, and Lisichansk

APEC Summit declaration takes Russia’s interests into account — Deputy Prime Minister

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Russia introduced temporary restrictions on enriched uranium exports to the US

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Hostages taken in restaurant in Paris suburb — TV

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Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania refuses to step down amid riots

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Russia routs Brunei 11:0 in friendly football match

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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IN BRIEF: What is known about situation in Abkhazia

In order to stabilize the situation, President Aslan Bzhania decided to withdraw from the parliament a bill on the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities on the territory of the republic

Russia awaits Trump’s proposals on Ukrainian settlement — Lavrov

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Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

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Press review: Switzerland open to hosting Putin-Trump talks as NATO and EU back Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 15th

Trump team fears negative impact of allegations against Hegseth — media

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European Commission upgrades outlook on Russian GDP growth for 2024, 2025

According to the report, private investment, supported by government-subsidized loans, increased as demand for domestic goods picked up, following the exit of foreign firms

Bzhania to run for president in case of early resignation

He also highlighted the pressure being exerted on members of parliament to unlawfully demand his resignation

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

Russia, China eyeing new gas route via Kazakhstan — Novak

Consideration of the route is at the initial phase, the Russian official said

Scholz-Putin talk should be welcomed, as it is right step — Bundestag

The lawmaker emphasized that politicians who are "intoxicated by war" and advocate for an imposed peace or the continuation of the conflict "until Kiev's victory" are only contributing to further loss of life

Kremlin says Putin spoke with Scholz in Russian through interpreter

"In Russian, of course, through an interpreter," he said in an interview for the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin"

German envoy doubts time is ripe for talks on Ukraine ceasefire

"It’s quite clear that Europe will play its part in resolving" the conflict, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said

About 5,000 people took part in protests in Abkhazia Saturday — opposition representative

New people come to participate in the protest every day, they become numerous, Mikaa said