At the press briefing U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked about US newly appointed Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy. Price was particularly asked what Senator Schumer meant saying that Tracy “will be tasked with standing up to Putin” and whether Price agrees with that view.
“She was just confirmed late last year. I know that the ambassador very much looks forward to moving to her post in Moscow, where she will be an excellent steward of U.S. policy towards the Russian Federation.
She obviously is no stranger to Moscow. She served as the deputy chief of mission there before. And she’s someone who knows the bilateral relationship as well, if not better than, anyone. So we look forward to having her in place.
We look forward to having her in place because it’s important that we have Senate-confirmed ambassadors in place representing the United States around the world, but it’s especially important in the case of Russia that we maintain channels of communication.
We think channels of communication are important in times of tension. They’re vitally important in times of conflict such as now. So I know that in the coming days she’ll have an opportunity to settle in in Moscow and to begin leading the mission, as I know she’s eager to do,” Price answered.
