US Diplomat Victoria Nuland steps down amidst Russia-Ukraine controversy

Victoria Nuland, the third-highest-ranking U.S. diplomat known for her tough stance on Russia, is set to retire from her position this month, as confirmed by the State Department on Tuesday.

As AP reports, Nuland, a seasoned diplomat, previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for Europe during the Obama administration and returned to government as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Biden administration. Despite being considered for the deputy Secretary of State role, she faced internal competition and ultimately lost to Kurt Campbell.

Throughout her career, Nuland has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine, drawing criticism from Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Her leadership during the Ukraine crisis has been praised by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who highlighted her role in shaping U.S. policy globally.

However, the Russian foreign ministry interpreted Nuland's retirement as a sign of failed U.S. policy towards Russia, attributing it to what they termed as "Russophobia."

Nuland will be temporarily succeeded by John Bass, a seasoned diplomat, with Julianne Smith, the current U.S. ambassador to NATO, being considered as a potential permanent replacement.

[With information sourced from AP]