Putin honored former Russian ambassador to the United States Antonov with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland

Russian President Vladimir Putin has honored former Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov with the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, 3rd class. The corresponding decree of the head of state was published on December 20 on the official Internet portal of legal information.

"For his great contribution to the realization of the foreign policy course of the Russian Federation and many years of diplomatic service to award Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary retired," the document says.

Anatoly Antonov was appointed Russian ambassador to the United States in August 2017. On October 5, 2024, he completed his work in this post and left the American territory. On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially relieved Antonov of his duties as ambassador to Washington and Russia's permanent observer to the United Nations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 7 that Russia would appoint its ambassador to the United States in a timely manner, and there was no question of any downgrading of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on December 11 that Russia had sent a request for preliminary approval of its new ambassador to the United States, but gave no details.

Later, on December 19, Antonov was appointed advisor to VTB Bank head Anatoly Kostin, where the former ambassador will be in charge of developing VTB's contacts with representatives of friendly countries, and his diplomatic experience is very important for such work.

From 2016 to 2017, Antonov served as deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation. From 2011 to 2016, he was Russia's deputy defense minister.