Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan speaks to the press at the State Department on March 16, 2018 (Photo: Nicholas Kamm / AFP)

The nomination needs the Senate’s approval. Sullivan is one of outstanding individuals in the US Department of State, who headed up a US delegation to Geneva on July to discuss strategic security with Russia. Many believe that Trump’s move aims at tightening relation with Russia to ensure the victory in the election next year. Russia hopes that Sullivan could focus more on official negotiation process.