Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said his duties are coming to an end, an announcement that opens the way for Moscow to send a new diplomat to Washington at a time when tensions between the countries are at their most damaging in decades.
The US and Russia are at odds over Moscow’s war against them, and relations between them have reached their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Antonov’s departure from the post of ambassador was reported on July 4 by the Russian daily, Kommersant, which possessed a handwritten letter from Antonov to a Russian research institute, for the 30th anniversary of its establishment.
“My task is coming to an end. I hope that together we will continue to protect the interests of the motherland”, Antonov wrote in the letter, dated June 29.
When asked about the issue on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakoharova said, according to Russian news agency Interfax:
“There is no reason to comment on this matter. Everyone has personal plans. The decision on the appointment and change of ambassadors is made by the president”.
Antonov, 69, assumed the post of ambassador to Washington in September 2017. Previously, he had served as deputy minister of defense and deputy minister of foreign affairs./REL/
