US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan refused to travel to Washington for consultations amid newly introduced sanctions by the administration of US President Joe Biden. This was announced on Tuesday, April 20, by the Axios news portal, citing sources.
Assistant to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov met with the American diplomat and invited him to return to Washington in order to consult with officials of Joe Biden.
“According to people familiar with Sullivan’s thinking, if Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a diplomat to leave Moscow, he will have to force him to do so,” the newspaper said.
In turn, the representative of the American department declined to comment.
Former ambassador to ex-President Barack Obama Mike McFaul praised John Sullivan’s decision to keep working despite Russian recommendations.
The day before, on April 19, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced that Russia’s proposal to send the American ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, for consultations is still relevant.