Kommersant: Official on EU sanctions list may become United States ambassador

The main candidate for the post of Russian ambassador to the United States is Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov, reported newspaper Kommersant on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

Until recently, Antonov was deputy head of Russia’s Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu.

Earlier, Kommersant reported that, in December 2016, Antonov was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in light of Donald Trump’s victory in the elections in the United States and Russia’s sense that it no longer needed to appoint a hardliner as ambassador.

Sources from Antonov’s inner circle told Kommersant that information about his possible appointment is “untrue”. The paper emphasizes that other candidates will also be considered for the post and that Russia’s new ambassador to the United States may be appointed within several months.

Anatoly Antonov worked in Russia’s Foreign Ministry for over 30 years. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy Defense Minister in charge of international cooperation.

In 2015, Antonov was put on the EU sanctions for his alleged involvement in sending Russian troops to Ukraine.