Latest news with #LynneTracy
Novaya Gazeta Europe
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
US ambassador to Russia signs off posting with Pushkin quote — Novaya Gazeta Europe
US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy attends a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia, 25 April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has completed her posting to Moscow and will soon depart the country after more than three years of service there, the US Embassy announced on Friday. 'We thank her for her constant diplomacy, deep respect for Russian culture, and dedicated service to her country. Ambassador Tracy's commitment to dialogue, even in difficult times, is an example of true diplomatic leadership,' the announcement read. A career member of the American Foreign Service, Tracy became the first female US ambassador to Russia when President Joe Biden appointed her in January 2023 to succeed John Sullivan. During her tenure, Tracy oversaw US-Russian relations following the invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent implementation of punitive sanctions by the West, and helped secure the release of several US citizens held in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. In February 2024, she and UK Ambassador to Russia Nigel Casey laid flowers at the Solovetsky Stone in Moscow, a monument to victims of political repression, after the death of opposition figure Alexey Navalny. Previously, Tracy served as the US Ambassador to Armenia (2019-2022), Deputy Chief of Mission to Moscow (2014-2017) — the Embassy's second most senior position — and completed other diplomatic postings in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In farewell comments accompanying the US Embassy's post, Tracy said she had been inspired by meeting Russians 'who love their country and work every day for a better future', and expressed her desire that work should continue to 'improve [US-Russian] relations and support connections with the Russian people'. She concluded her remarks with a verse from Alexander Pushkin's poem To Chaadaev, considered one of his earliest civic-minded works: While freedom kindles us, my friend, While honour calls us and we hear it, Come: to our country let us tend The noble promptings of the spirit.
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
US envoy leaves Russia as detente faltering
MOSCOW: The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, is departing Moscow, leaving Washington without a top envoy in the country as a rapprochement being pushed by US President Donald Trump falters. Moscow earlier this week accused Washington of not being 'ready' to take steps to restore the normal functioning of their embassies, hobbled by years of tit-for-tat restrictions and expulsions of diplomats. Trump has not yet nominated a successor to Tracy, the first woman to hold the post and who was appointed by ex-President Joe Biden and is leaving after two-and-a-half years in the role. Trump has overhauled Biden's policy of isolating Vladimir Putin over his Ukraine offensive, holding several calls with the Kremlin chief and raising the prospect of boosting bilateral ties. 'I am proud to have represented my country in Moscow during such a challenging time,' Tracy said in a message posted by the embassy on social media. She also quoted lines from a poem by Alexander Pushkin, Russia's famed national poet. Diplomats from the two countries have held several rounds of negotiations under Trump on issues ranging from the Ukraine conflict and prisoner exchanges to normalizing embassy operations. But on Wednesday the Kremlin accused Washington of being 'not yet ready' to remove barriers to the work of their respective diplomatic missions. Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin over his refusal to end Moscow's three-year offensive on Ukraine. Since the Republican returned to the White House, Putin has repeatedly rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire, demanded Kyiv cede more territory, urged his troops to keep advancing and escalated deadly missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
First female US ambassador to Russia to leave her role
The first female US ambassador to Russia is leaving her role after serving through one of the most difficult periods in relations between the two countries. Lynne Tracy, who has been based in Moscow, said she is "proud to have represented my country" in the Russian capital "during such a challenging time". There is no suggestion she has been removed from her role by the administration. The departure of the career diplomat appointed by former president comes as Russia and the United States discuss a potential reset in their ties, which sharply deteriorated after Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. President Donald Trump has said there are potentially big investment deals to be struck, but is growing increasingly frustrated that his efforts to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine have so far not resulted in a meaningful ceasefire. In a statement shared by the US embassy in Russia on Telegram, Ms Tracy said: "As I leave Russia, I know that my colleagues at the embassy will continue to work to improve our relations and maintain ties with the Russian people. "I have been inspired by my meetings with Russians who love their country and work every day for a better future. I would like to conclude with lines from Pushkin's poem 'To Chaadayev', which speak of the love for the Motherland that lives in each of us. Goodbye!" The embassy said it wanted to "express our gratitude for her contributions based on consistent diplomacy, deep respect for Russian culture, and dedicated service to the American people". Read more from Sky News: In a statement earlier this month, the embassy said Ms Tracy, who arrived in Moscow in January 2023 and was greeted by protesters chanting anti-US slogans when she went to the foreign ministry to present her credentials, would leave her post soon. She was notably involved in efforts to win the release of US citizens jailed in Russia, and former marine Paul Whelan, who were eventually freed in August 2024 as part of a big East-West prisoner swap. Ms Tracy, who took over from John Sullivan, had previously served as the second-highest official at the US Embassy in Moscow, the deputy chief of mission, from 2014 to 2017. She was the ambassador to Armenia at the time she was nominated to replace Mr Sullivan after he retired. Ms Tracy, who speaks Russian, had also worked at US diplomatic outposts including Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. She majored in Soviet Studies and holds a law degree.
Sky News
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News
First female US ambassador to Russia to leave her role
The first female US ambassador to Russia is leaving her role after serving through one of the most difficult periods in relations between the two countries. Lynne Tracy, who has been based in Moscow, said she is "proud to have represented my country" in the Russian capital "during such a challenging time". There is no suggestion she has been removed from her role by the Trump administration. The departure of the career diplomat appointed by former president Joe Biden comes as Russia and the United States discuss a potential reset in their ties, which sharply deteriorated after Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. President Donald Trump has said there are potentially big investment deals to be struck, but is growing increasingly frustrated that his efforts to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine have so far not resulted in a meaningful ceasefire. In a statement shared by the US embassy in Russia on Telegram, Ms Tracy said: "As I leave Russia, I know that my colleagues at the embassy will continue to work to improve our relations and maintain ties with the Russian people. "I have been inspired by my meetings with Russians who love their country and work every day for a better future. I would like to conclude with lines from Pushkin's poem 'To Chaadayev', which speak of the love for the Motherland that lives in each of us. Goodbye!" The embassy said it wanted to "express our gratitude for her contributions based on consistent diplomacy, deep respect for Russian culture, and dedicated service to the American people". In a statement earlier this month, the embassy said Ms Tracy, who arrived in Moscow in January 2023 and was greeted by protesters chanting anti-US slogans when she went to the foreign ministry to present her credentials, would leave her post soon. She was notably involved in efforts to win the release of US citizens jailed in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan, who were eventually freed in August 2024 as part of a big East-West prisoner swap. Ms Tracy, who took over from John Sullivan, had previously served as the second-highest official at the US Embassy in Moscow, the deputy chief of mission, from 2014 to 2017. She was the ambassador to Armenia at the time she was nominated to replace Mr Sullivan after he retired. Ms Tracy, who speaks Russian, had also worked at US diplomatic outposts including Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. She majored in Soviet Studies and holds a law degree.
CNA
a day ago
- Politics
- CNA
US ambassador to Russia leaves Moscow, embassy statement says
MOSCOW: Lynne Tracy, the US ambassador to Russia, is leaving Moscow, her embassy said on Friday (Jun 27), noting she had served through one of the most strained periods in relations between Moscow and Washington. The departure of a career diplomat appointed under the administration of former president Joe Biden comes as Russia and the United States discuss a potential reset in their ties which sharply deteriorated after Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. President Donald Trump has said there are potentially big investment deals to be struck, but is growing increasingly frustrated that his efforts to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine have so far not resulted in a meaningful ceasefire. "I am proud to have represented my country in Moscow during such a challenging time. As I leave Russia, I know that my colleagues at the embassy will continue to work to improve our relations and maintain ties with the Russian people," the embassy cited Tracy as saying in a statement. It said Tracy's time in post had been marked by her belief that meaningful dialogue was important even during difficult times, the embassy said. The embassy said earlier this month that Tracy, who arrived in Moscow in January 2023 and was greeted by protesters chanting anti-US slogans when she went to the Foreign Ministry to present her credentials, would leave her post soon. Her successor has not been publicly named. Her tenure is similar in duration to her predecessor, John Sullivan, who served as ambassador for two years and seven months from February 2020 to September 2022. Tracy was notably involved in efforts to win the release of US citizens jailed in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan, who were eventually freed in August 2024 as part of a big East-West prisoner swap.
