Germany confirms new envoy to Russia after ties downgrade

FILE PHOTO: Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) arrives at the German Parliamentary Society offices before the start of exploratory talks about forming a new coalition government in Berlin, Germany November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Alexander Graf Lambsdorff as its new ambassador to Russia, weeks after the two countries announced a downgrading of diplomatic ties as relations collapsed after the invasion of Ukraine.

Graf Lambsdorff, a 56-year-old diplomat and member of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) in the ruling coalition, will take up his post in the summer after Russia gave the green light for the move.