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WASHINGTON, July 8./ITAR – Moscow has agreed to appoint John Tefft as the new US ambassador to the Russian Federation. A diplomatic source told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.
“Russia has given an agreman for the appointment of John Tefft as the new head of the US diplomatic mission in Moscow,” said the agency's interlocutor, familiar with the situation.
Tefft headed the diplomatic mission in Ukraine from November 2009 to August 2013. In 2000-2003 he was the US Ambassador to Lithuania, in 2005-2009 – to Georgia. From 1996 to 1999, Tefft served as Deputy US Ambassador to Moscow.
In April, the New York Times reported about Tefft's possible appointment to the post. “When the White House began to look for a replacement for Michael McFaul a few months ago, Tefft's candidacy was in doubt due to fears that his experience in the former Soviet republics would irritate Russia. . – ITAR-TASS) The US is not afraid of the Kremlin's reaction, “the newspaper notes.
Michael McFaul's resignation
In February of this year, the previous US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, announced that he was stepping down. He motivated his decision by personal and family circumstances. On February 26, he left Moscow. In March, it was reported that he took a job with the American television company NBC. According to the official representatives of the media corporation, the ex-ambassador will specialize in topics related to Russia, international relations and national security.
I had a fantastic time here as the US Ambassador. I am proud to represent my country in Russia. Michael McFaul
McFaul is not a career diplomat. Until December 2011, he was the chief adviser to US President Barack Obama on Russia, and previously – a professor of political science at Stanford University (California). He was approved for the post of US Ambassador to Moscow in December 2011, and in February of this year announced his resignation. McFaul speaks Russian, Portuguese and Polish.
The ex-ambassador names the new START treaty, cooperation between the US and Russia on Afghanistan, cooperation in the fight against terrorism and cyber threats among his main achievements during his work in Russia , as well as agreements on Syrian chemical weapons.
Michael Anthony McFaul. Biography