Top US Official With Notable Stance on Russia-Ukraine Conflict Announces Retirement – Sky Bulletin
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In recent news from WASHINGTON (AP), Victoria Nuland, a U.S. diplomat with a strong position on Russia’s activities in Ukraine and the current third-highest ranking in the U.S. diplomacy, is retiring in the upcoming weeks as informed by the State Department on Tuesday.
Victoria Nuland, who boasts a robust foreign service track record including a role as Assistant Secretary of State for Europe under the Obama administration and a return to duty as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs with the Biden administration, has stepped down.
Despite running for the deputy Secretary of State role and temporarily acting in the position following Wendy Sherman’s retirement, Nuland was passed over in favor of Kurt Campbell who won the number two spot. Campbell was an internal victor in an administrative tussle and started his duties last month.
Nuland, whose diplomatic career included time at the U.S. embassy in Moscow during the eventful 1990s, was witness to the attempted coup against the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Her subsequent role as U.S. ambassador to NATO and later as the State Department spokesperson during Hillary Rodham Clinton’s term as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama made her a key figure.
The diplomat’s staunch support for Ukraine, particularly in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, has often made her a focal point of Russian leadership criticism.
With her storied career spanning over 35 years and under six presidents, former Secretary of State John Kerry remembers how Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted to Nuland’s ascension from spokesperson to assistant Secretary of State for Europe with a comment which Kerry rebuffed by emphasizing her promotion, not her removal.
Antony Blinken, the current Secretary of State, lauded Nuland’s significant contributions to formulating U.S. foreign policy, singling out her impactful efforts on the Ukraine situation as noteworthy for future diplomatic studies.
Blinken highlighted Nuland’s instrumental role in countering Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine, forming a global coalition for strategic pushback, and supporting Ukraine’s future stability and self-reliance in various aspects.
Following her retirement, John Bass, presently undersecretary for management and former ambassador to Afghanistan, will fill the under secretary position on an interim basis. Bass has the experience of managing the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.
FAQ Section:
- Who is Victoria Nuland?
- What roles has Nuland held in her career?
- What were Nuland’s significant contributions?
- Who will replace Nuland?
Victoria Nuland is a career U.S. foreign service officer, serving most recently as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and is known for her hawkish views on Russia and its actions in Ukraine.
Nuland has held multiple roles, including U.S. ambassador to NATO, State Department spokeswoman, and Assistant Secretary of State for Europe.
Nuland played a key role in the U.S. diplomatic response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and has been praised for her leadership in confronting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
John Bass, a career diplomat and former ambassador to Afghanistan, will temporarily replace Victoria Nuland as under secretary.
Conclusion:
The impending retirement of Victoria Nuland marks the end of an era for a prominent figure in U.S. foreign relations, particularly with respect to Eastern Europe and U.S.-Russia dynamics. Her tenure, characterized by a firm stance against Russian aggression and a strong support for Ukrainian sovereignty, has left indelible marks on U.S. foreign policy. As the diplomatic community bids farewell to Nuland and her wealth of experience, the appointed interim successor, John Bass, will step in to continue the pertinent work on the international stage.
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