MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) — The Kremlin on Wednesday gave its approval for the candidacy of John Tefft as the possible new US ambassador to Russia, Foreign Ministry aide Yuri Ushakov said.
“Yes, the approval was given," Ushakov said during a briefing in Moscow.
“This is a high-level diplomat, a professional diplomat," the aide said, adding that Tefft worked in Russia earlier, knows the country and speaks Russian.
Tefft served as US ambassador to Ukraine between 2009 and 2013, after holding the same position in Georgia from 2005 to 2009 and Lithuania from 2000 to 2003. Tefft also worked in Moscow as deputy ambassador from 1996 to 1999.
From 1989 to 1992, Tefft was deputy head of the department for the Soviet Union (later Russia and the CIS) in the US State Department.
The previous US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, announced his return to the United States on February 4. McFaul called Tefft a “perfect” candidate for the new head of the US embassy in Moscow.
Experts say the appointment of “Sovietologist” Tefft could signal the Obama administration intends to pursue a policy of containment toward Moscow, resembling the Cold War regime.
