Lynn Tracy may become the new US ambassador to Russia

dw:  US President Joe Biden plans to appoint Lynn Tracy, who currently heads the American diplomatic mission in Armenia, as the next ambassador to Russia. This was reported on Wednesday, September 14, by CNN with reference to informed interlocutors.

This information was also confirmed by sources of the AP and Reuters agencies. There is no official confirmation of these reports yet.

The Biden administration hopes that Tracy will soon be able to start working in Moscow, CNN notes. The timing of her arrival and official appointment will depend on whether Russia agrees to accept her as an ambassador. According to sources, Washington has already notified Russia about its choice. As a rule, the host country approves the chosen ambassador before the official appointment.

The United States Ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, has completed his work in this post amid increasing tensions between the two countries over the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. He left Moscow on September 4. Until the arrival of Sullivan 's successor , the duties of the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Moscow are performed by Elizabeth Rood.

Lynn Tracy, who speaks Russian, is a career member of the diplomatic service. Prior to being sworn in as Ambassador to Yerevan in 2019, she held the position of Senior Adviser on Russian Affairs in the Bureau of the State Department for European and Eurasian Affairs. From 2014 to 2017, Tracy was the deputy head of the US diplomatic mission in Moscow. Previously, she worked in various diplomatic positions in Central and South Asia.

If Tracy is confirmed as ambassador to Russia, she will become the first woman to head the US Embassy in Moscow.