The US Ambassador to South Korea Returns to the US... "Will Return Within a Few Weeks"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] John Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, is scheduled to return to the United States this week and stay for several weeks, Axios reported on the 20th (local time), citing the U.S. Department of State.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said, "Ambassador Sullivan will return to the U.S. this week to meet with family and contacts he has not seen since the new administration took office," adding, "He will return to Moscow within a few weeks."

This statement from the State Department came just hours after the Russian government advised Sullivan to return to his home country to discuss current issues with the State Department, which he declined.

Axios explained that Sullivan was not forcibly expelled as retaliation for the U.S. sanctions expelling Russian diplomats. The Russian Ambassador to the U.S. returned to Russia in mid-last month and has remained in Moscow since.

Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been deteriorating due to sanctions related to Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election and Russia's provocations in Ukraine.

On the 15th, President Biden expelled 10 Russian diplomats over allegations of Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election and federal agency hacking, and announced economic sanctions restricting the purchase of Russian government bonds.

While President Biden has issued warnings to Russia, he has also shown efforts to seek diplomatic solutions for bilateral relations, including proposing a summit in a third country within a few months.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.