MOSCOW, July 14 (RIA Novosti) – The US Senate will approve the candidacy of the new ambassador to Russia no earlier than this fall, a diplomatic source told RIA Novosti on Monday.
“The consideration of the new US ambassador to Russia will take a long time. Senators go on vacation in August. The new ambassador’s candidacy will be approved no earlier than September-October,” the source said.
On July 11, the White House announced that US President Barack Obama nominated John F. Tefft as the ambassador to Russia. The US Senate will have to approve the nominee.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Kremlin gave its approval for the candidacy of John F. Tefft as the possible new US ambassador to Russia.
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The post has been vacant since the previous US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, announced his return to the United States on February 4.