France’s new ambassador to Russia arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, several months after his predecessor left, as tensions between Paris and the Kremlin remain high over Ukraine.
The French embassy in Moscow said on social media Nicolas de Riviere arrived in the Russian capital. According to Russian news agencies, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko accepted his credentials. The previous French ambassador, Pierre Levy, left his post in August 2024.
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Russia has singled out France, a key Ukraine ally, as a hostile European country. Several European ambassadors are yet to arrive in Russia.
The EU has supported Kyiv during Moscow’s full-scale offensive and Russia has increased criticism of the bloc recently, accusing it of hampering US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the conflict.
Europe and Kyiv are worried that Washington and Moscow would strike a deal on the conflict without their involvement.
Russia and the US have warmed ties since Trump called Putin shortly after taking office, resuming dialogue between the two countries.
Last month, Russia appointed Alexander Darchiev, a long-time diplomat that has made hawkish statements on the West, as Moscow’s new ambassador to the US as ties with Washington warm under Trump.
Trump has not yet named a new US ambassador to Russia.