“How you welcome the New Year is how you will spend it”: in a speech about peaceful dialogue, the U.S. ambassador to Russia did not mention Ukraine

Washington is open to constructive and respectful dialogue with the Russian government despite the deep differences between the two nations, stated U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, appointed by outgoing President Joe Biden.

Tracy shared this message in a New Year’s address published by the U.S. Embassy on the social platform X.

“How you greet the New Year is how you will spend it,” said the ambassador in Russian, demonstrating her familiarity with the language. She firmly believes in maintaining existing connections and fostering new ones between Russians and Americans.

The diplomat emphasized the importance of keeping channels open for direct contact between people to preserve long-standing ties between the two nations. She invited Russians to study in the U.S., enabling students, scholars, artists, and musicians to engage with each other.

“We remain open to respectful and constructive dialogue with representatives of the Russian government, despite significant disagreements on many issues,” Tracy continued.

“I grew up during the Cold War when U.S.-Soviet relations were equally tense. I saw the positive impact that people-to-people contacts had in reducing tensions and improving relations between governments. These memories continue to inspire me, and I remain hopeful that in 2025, we can find a path toward a better, more peaceful future,” the ambassador expressed, notably not mentioning Ukraine in her address.

“Happy New Year,” Tracy concluded in Russian.

It was recently announced that Lynne Tracy would become the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, replacing John Sullivan. Tracy has witnessed the collapse of the USSR and has been recognized for her work in Peshawar.

A career diplomat, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia before her current appointment. Tracy is fluent in Russian and lived in Russia for three years in the late 1980s, later serving as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow from 2014 to 2017.

Tracy is regarded as a leading expert on Russia within the U.S. State Department, which considers the ambassadorial post in Russia to be a critical position.