Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has announced that his term is coming to an end, which will allow Moscow to send a new diplomat to Washington at a time when relations between the two countries are at their lowest point in decades, reports Reuters.
The information about the end of Antonov's term was reported on Thursday by the Russian publication Kommersant, which noticed a handwritten note sent by Antonov in which he congratulated a Moscow think tank on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
"My term ends. I hope that together we will continue to protect the interests of our Motherland!", Antonov wrote in the congratulatory letter dated June 29.
When asked, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters: "There is no reason to comment here. Everyone can have their own personal plans. Decisions on the appointment and replacement of ambassadors are made by the president."
Anatoly Antonov, 69, took up his post in Washington in September 2017. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Defense and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This change of ambassador comes at a critical time for Russian-American relations, as the ongoing war in Ukraine and numerous sanctions and accumulated diplomatic tensions continue to strain relations between the two countries.