According to state media reports, Russia’s Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, returned to Moscow on Oct. 5 as his term in Washington came to an end. This marks the end of his assignment during a time of increasingly hostile relations between the two nations, which have been at their worst in decades.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Antonov’s departure, with state news agency TASS reporting on his return. The 69-year-old diplomat, known for his tough stance, has been Russia’s envoy to Washington since 2017. Throughout his tenure, Antonov was seen as a strong negotiator, particularly on military and strategic issues. There has been no announcement yet about who will succeed him, according to Reuters.
Antonov has been a steadfast supporter of President Vladimir Putin‘s policies, including Russia’s framing of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a “special military operation,” in contrast to how Kyiv and its Western allies describe it as a war. During his career, Antonov served as deputy defense minister during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was subject to European sanctions after being appointed to Washington. He is also known for his skill as an arms control negotiator and has led Russian delegations to important international talks.
Despite the current tensions between the two nations, Antonov expressed a willingness to work with Washington on arms control in an August interview with TASS. “My approach to negotiations is simple: we need to sit down and write down what each side wants,” he said, emphasizing the importance of finding common ground, even on minimal terms.
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