Moscow said it has agreed to the candidacy of John Tefft as the new U.S. ambassador to Russia.
President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, told reporters that "agreement has been given," a reference to a diplomatic procedure in which the host government accepts the nomination of an ambassador.
Ushakov said he knew Tefft well and called him a "first-class diplomat."
Profile: John Tefft -- A Bogeyman In Russia
Tefft is known for his support for the pro-Western nations of Ukraine and Georgia. He previously served as the U.S. envoy to both of those countries.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Tefft, a career diplomat, will succeed Michael McFaul, who quit his post in February after just two years on the job.
