Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the U.S. government has officially approved Moscow’s appointment of Alexander Darchiyev as the new Russian ambassador to Washington.

The formal approval for Darchiyev’s appointment was granted by the U.S. side during talks between delegations of the two countries on Thursday in Istanbul, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Darchiyev, who currently heads the North America Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, is expected to depart for Washington soon.

Moscow has not had an ambassador in the United States since the previous envoy stepped down in October.