Why Russia Should Keep the US Embassy Open – A Quick Quip from the Washington Front
London – The US ambassador to Moscow, John J. Sullivan, made a headline‑breaching statement about keeping the American diplomatic mission in Russia running, even amid the full‑blown crisis that stemmed from the Ukraine war. “We’re not going to shut the doors,” he told state news agency TASS on June 6.
What’s the Back‑story?
President Vladimir Putin sees the Ukrainian invasion as a major pivot in Russian history – a cultural revolt against what he claims is a humiliating US hegemony since the USSR’s 1991 collapse. Meanwhile, Ukraine and its allies are fighting to survive a reckless, imperial land grab that has killed thousands, displaced over ten million people, and turned vast swaths of the country into wasteland.
America’s Call for Conversation
In a single interview with TASS, Sullivan emphasized the importance of dialogue. “We must preserve the ability to talk to each other,” he said, adding a cheeky nod to the preservation of cultural classics: “Don’t pull Leo Tolstoy out of Western books; don’t refuse Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s music.
- He warned against shutting down diplomacy, indicating it would be a “big mistake.”
- He mentioned the possibility of closing the embassy but stood firmly against it.
What the Media Say
Russian foreign ministry summoned Moscow’s US media chiefs to discuss the fallout from the US’s “unfriendly actions.” Even though the US and Soviet Union severed ties in 1933 after a brief rupture, the two nations haven’t done a full cancellation of relations – a fact asked of Sullivan who said, “We can’t just pull the plug on diplomacy.”
Humor doesn’t Miss the Mark
Critics of the US presence ranged from witty remarks about specialty songs – UK Secretary of State Antony Blinken joked about turning Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” over to Putin – to diplomats clarifying that the lingo means a temporary break, not a bleak ban.
Sullivan, a 62‑year‑old lawyer, says spoil it or spice it, the key is to keep the conversation alive. He acknowledges it could take until his retirement to see real progress. Despite the cracks, he remains hopeful of a future where the US and Russia might find a ten‑minute “coffee break” to talk.
Key Takeaway
In a world where nuclear powerhouses are at an impasse, keeping the two biggest diplomatic embassies – Washington’s in Moscow and Moscow’s in Washington – open could mean the difference between a lasting cold war and an improbable warm chat. Let’s keep the doors open, even if the hallway is a little dusty.
