MOSCOW - Appointed by former President Donald Trump as U.S. Ambassador to Russia, and told media that he would have to be tore away from Moscow, has concluded his post, and left Russia, according to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
The embassy in Moscow stated that Sullivan would retire from public service, after a career which included 5 U.S. Presidents occurring over 40 years, which also includes his time as deputy secretary of state, working for the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce.
Elizabeth Rood would assume duties as interim ambassador at the Moscow embassy until a successor could be named by the United States current administration. She has served as deputy chief of mission since June 2022.
Sullivan was serving as ambassador as Russia initiated its "special military operation" in Ukraine, back in February. An event that has marred relations between the U.S. and Russia the likes haven't been seen since the cold war.
As relations degraded, the current administration made the decision to keep Sullivan on board as long as possible.
On Saturday, September 4th, Sullivan attended the funeral of the late former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, a man who contributed to the ending of the cold war without any bloodshed or scars. The next day, Sullivan boarded a plane bound for the United States.
According to The Hill, Ambassador Sullivan has been very critical of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, in June telling Voice of America (VOA) that it was a "massive act of aggression" that has killed thousands and displaced millions. He has often praised Ukraine for taking a stand for freedom against their Russian aggressors, keeping them out of the capital of Kyiv stating, "I don't think the Russian government expected the Ukrainian government to stand firm and resist."
In a statement, referring to the ambassador's exit, the state department said this:
The state department official also said that a successor would be named soon as the next ambassador, but declined to comment as to who that would be.
Sullivan played an integral part of bringing detained U.S. Marine Trevor Reed home in the spring, after he was detained in Russia. He has been overseeing and continually working in the WNBA's Brittney Griner case, another American who has been detained in Russia, surrounding mysterious circumstances.
Elizabeth Rood would assume duties as interim ambassador at the Moscow embassy until a successor could be named by the United States current administration. She has served as deputy chief of mission since June 2022.
Sullivan was serving as ambassador as Russia initiated its "special military operation" in Ukraine, back in February. An event that has marred relations between the U.S. and Russia the likes haven't been seen since the cold war.
As relations degraded, the current administration made the decision to keep Sullivan on board as long as possible.
On Saturday, September 4th, Sullivan attended the funeral of the late former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, a man who contributed to the ending of the cold war without any bloodshed or scars. The next day, Sullivan boarded a plane bound for the United States.
According to The Hill, Ambassador Sullivan has been very critical of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, in June telling Voice of America (VOA) that it was a "massive act of aggression" that has killed thousands and displaced millions. He has often praised Ukraine for taking a stand for freedom against their Russian aggressors, keeping them out of the capital of Kyiv stating, "I don't think the Russian government expected the Ukrainian government to stand firm and resist."
In a statement, referring to the ambassador's exit, the state department said this:
The state department official also said that a successor would be named soon as the next ambassador, but declined to comment as to who that would be.
Sullivan played an integral part of bringing detained U.S. Marine Trevor Reed home in the spring, after he was detained in Russia. He has been overseeing and continually working in the WNBA's Brittney Griner case, another American who has been detained in Russia, surrounding mysterious circumstances.
Sources
Reuters | The Hill | CNN
Photo Accreditation
Ambassador John Sullivan With Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov | The Kremlin | CC BY 3.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
Importance Level
HIGH | a new ambassador could be named at any time
Reuters | The Hill | CNN
Photo Accreditation
Ambassador John Sullivan With Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov | The Kremlin | CC BY 3.0 | via Wikimedia Commons
Importance Level
HIGH | a new ambassador could be named at any time