Russia hopes new US ambassador to help mend ties

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Jon Huntsman, the new US ambassador to Russia, presented his diplomatic credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Tuesday, officially taking office in Moscow.

New ambassadors to Russia from 20 other countries also attended the ceremony.

Huntsman, a former US ambassador to China from 2009 to 2011 and a contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, has taken over from John Tefft as Washington's top diplomatic representative in Russia amid deteriorating relations between the two countries.

New US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman (C) stands next to Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) after presenting diplomatic credentials, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov nearby, during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, October 3, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Putin offered the new US ambassador Russia's condolences over Monday's mass shooting in Las Vegas that left at least 59 people dead and more than 500 injured and expressed hope for better ties with the United States.

"The current level of the ties cannot satisfy us," Putin said. "We stand for constructive, predictable and mutually beneficial cooperation."

The Russian president added that neither country should meddle in each other's "domestic affairs."

The bilateral ties have rapidly worsened due to Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Though US President Donald Trump has repeatedly dismissed the allegation a "hoax" pushed by the Democrats, Huntsman said at his confirmation hearing last week that "there is no question, underline, no question" that Moscow interfered.

US President Donald Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, July 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

An ongoing diplomatic war between Washington and Moscow saw the cut of two-thirds of American embassy and consulate staff in Russia and the closure of Russia's consulate in San Francisco. The US also suspended issuing nonimmigrant visas in Moscow for a week in August and stopped issuing visas at its consulates elsewhere in Russia.

Moscow hopes Huntsman will help to mend Russia-US relations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"We hope of course that led by the new ambassador, the US diplomatic mission will be able to make substantial contribution to restoring our relations from the damage done by Washington's actions," Peskov said.

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