John Tefft may become the new US Ambassador to Russia

John Tefft may become the new US ambassador to Moscow, the New York Times writes , citing sources in the Obama administration.

The decision has not yet been finalized, but US President Barack Obama is going to submit Tefft to Congress for approval, the newspaper writes.

Tefft has experience working in the former Soviet republics, which did not play in his favor, since Obama believed that this would cause irritation in Moscow. However, the newspaper writes, now the administration is not afraid to hurt the Kremlin's feelings.

Tefft served as US Ambassador to Lithuania, Georgia and Ukraine. Earlier it was suggested that Tefft could become ambassador to Moscow. Other nominees included the names of Carlos Pascual and Steven Pifer.

Former US Ambassador Michael McFaul stepped down after the Sochi Olympics.