The US ambassador to Russia ended his tenure as America’s top diplomat in Moscow on Sunday after nearly three years. Across the Trump and Biden administrations, Ambassador John Sullivan will retire entirely from a long career in government service.
Sullivan’s retirementalthough expected for the coming fall, has been accelerated due to family medical issues, according to people familiar with the matter.
“The US Ambassador to the Russian Federation, John J. Sullivan, has completed his tenure as US envoy and departed from Moscow today,” the US Embassy in Russia said in a press statement on Sunday.
How will this affect Brittney Griner and other prisoner swap negotiations?
Sullivan’s departure comes amid the widening crisis surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine and disputes over imprisoned Americans in Russia.
Diplomatic sources in Russia confirmed in early August that negotiations are underway between Washington and Moscow regarding a proposed prisoner exchange include WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan for convicted arms dealers Victor fight imprisoned in the US
During the past seven months of Griner’s detention in Russia, Ambassador Sullivan has complained about obstacles he and other embassy officials have encountered in their efforts to visit Griner.
After several denials of consular visits, Sullivan took to Twitter in May, Request access to Griner.
“For the third time in a month, Russian authorities have denied detained US citizen Brittney Griner an embassy visit,” Sullivan tweeted, calling the situation “unacceptable” and urging the Russian Foreign Ministry to grant timely consular access. grinner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine for having less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.
Ambassador Sullivan faced daunting challenges in Russia
Sullivan’s tenure at the Moscow Embassy over the past three years has been particularly difficult as US-Russia relations deteriorate….
