When US-Russian relations are tense, does Biden change the ambassador appointed by his predecessor to Russia?

　　Chinanews, April 13th. According to Russian satellite network reports, US media quoted US government sources as reporting that the US Biden administration has decided not to replace John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, in the "foreseeable future."

Sullivan has served as ambassador to Russia for nearly one and a half years, and was appointed ambassador during the tenure of former President Trump.

Data map: US President Biden.

　　According to CNN, citing sources, the Biden administration regards Sullivan, who has been in office for nearly a year and a half, as a “stabilizing hand” as the White House “increases pressure on Russia”.

The news pointed out that Biden is still deciding which diplomats to appoint to other ambassador positions. At the same time, the White House announced on April 12 that the president has not yet decided on the "overwhelming majority" positions.

　　Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Turford said that the Biden administration believes that the professionalism that John Sullivan brings to this job is valuable during the important political transition period in the relationship between the United States and Russia.

　　Sullivan has served as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia since February 2020.

He was appointed to this post by former U.S. President Trump.

　　When Biden was sworn in as President of the United States in January this year, Sullivan once commented to the satellite network that President-elect Biden’s team asked him to “temporarily” stay as the US ambassador to Russia.

He said at the time, “I am honored to be the US ambassador to Russia. Together with the embassy team, we will continue to work on important areas of Russian-US relations and multilateral issues.”

　　Recently, there has been a new round of tension in Russia-US relations.

In March, when Biden was asked in an interview whether he thought Russian President Putin was a "murderer," he answered in the affirmative.

This remark immediately caused a strong reaction from the Russian side.

　　The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on March 17 that it would recall the Russian ambassador to the United States Antonov to discuss the prospects of Russia-US relations.