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"I
was received by President Trump, I presented my credentials. For
my part I said that we are looking forward to an improvement in
the relations between our two countries," Tass news agency
quoted the ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, as saying.
"President Trump received me in a warm and friendly way ... The
atmosphere was very genial, constructive and welcoming. At
least, that was my personal feeling," Russia's RIA news agency
quoted Antonov as saying.
"We, together with his colleagues, his staff, agreed to continue
our cooperation."
"I said that I look forward to working with the U.S government
in the area of Russian-American mutual interests. And I said
that, as far as Russia is concerned, we are ready to do that,
we're ready to take concrete steps."
Antonov took over as ambassador from Sergei Kislyak, whose
contacts with members of Trump’s campaign team made him a
central figure in the row over Russian influence on last year's
U.S. presidential election.
A special counsel and congressional panels are investigating
allegations of Russian meddling in the election, and whether
members of the Trump campaign had improper contacts with figures
linked to the Russian state.
Russia denies trying to interfere in the election.
Antonov, born in 1955, is a diplomat by training and before his
posting to Washington was a deputy foreign minister. Between
2011 and 2016, he served as deputy defense minister, a period
that coincided with Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine's Crimean
peninsula.
Two years ago, the European Union put him on its list of
officials subject to Ukraine-related sanctions, citing his
involvement in supporting the deployment of Russian troops to
Ukraine.
(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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