Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy will soon step down from her post, her embassy announced on Thursday. She has served through one of the most challenging and strained periods in U.S.-Russia relations.
In an effort to strengthen ties, Russia and the United States have initiated a number of interactions since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.
How did Lynne Tracy shape US-Russia relations?
Tracy, a seasoned diplomat, took up her post in Moscow in January 2023, only to be met by protesters shouting anti-U.S. slogans when she visited the Foreign Ministry to present her credentials. Russia had raised concerns about her suitability for the role, implying she might be more comfortable in a hawkish think tank.
Her term was defined by the Ukraine war, which pushed U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point in years, according to the Kremlin’s description last year.
She played a significant role in securing the release of U.S. citizens detained in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. They were eventually freed in August 2024 as part of a major prisoner exchange between East and West.
Although Trump has expressed irritation with Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and the absence of any discernible movement towards a peace accord, both sides claim there is enormous potential for economic and investment partnerships if relations improve.
Who might replace Lynne Tracy in the Kremlin post?
Tracy’s term is expected to be around the same length as her predecessor’s, John Sullivan, who was ambassador for two years and seven months, from February 2020 to September 2022.
According to unconfirmed reports, as of June 2025, the United States has yet to nominate another ambassador to Russia following the announced departure of Lynne Tracy, U.S. ambassador to Moscow.
On the other hand, Russia appointed Alexander Darchiev as its new ambassador to the United States in March 2025. He is a seasoned diplomat with a specialty in North American affairs and previously served as the Russian ambassador to Canada and head of the North America Division of the Foreign Ministry.
