"An announcement about a new ambassador will come soon, when the president thinks it expedient," he said.
Russia’s embassy in Washington said earlier that Sergei Kislyak had stepped down as Russian ambassador to the United States and Minister-Counselor Denis Gonchar would continue as Russia’s Charge d'Affaires ad interim, TASS news agency reported.
In late June, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov refused to comment on possible appointment of a new Russian ambassador, saying such issues are typically kept in secret until official announcement.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharov, in turn, said the issue of possible rotation of the Russian ambassador in the United States was being considered in a routine mode.
On May 18, the international committee of the Russian State Duma lower parliament house supported the candidacy of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov for the post of Russian ambassador to the United States, a source close to the discussion told TASS back then.
"The committee has given consent for the Russian foreign ministry nominee Antonov’s appointment as Russian ambassador to the United States," the source said.