Russia denies appointing new ambassador to US

MOSCOW - 28 July 2017: Spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Putin is yet to decide on sending a new Russian ambassador to the United States.

Peskov explained that such a decision can only be made after the Russian president signs a decree concerning the matter.

Russian Izvestia newspaper has earlier quoted a source in the Russian diplomatic circles as saying that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov was appointed as the new Russian ambassador to the United States.

The newspaper pointed out that Antonov has received approval from Washington as the new Russian ambassador a week ago, after Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with his US counterpart Thomas Shannon in Washington.