McFaul named U.S. ambassador to Russia

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Saturday unanimously confirmed Michael McFaul as the U.S. ambassador to Russia.

McFaul, 48, President Obama's chief adviser on Russia, was nominated to replace John Byerly as ambassador in September, but Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., had held up the confirmation over concerns about missile-defense cooperation, RIA Novosti reported.

The White House in a letter told Kirk it would "not provide Russia with sensitive information about our missile defense systems that would in any way compromise our national security," and Kirk lifted his hold, the news agency said.

McFaul is co-chairman of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission's Civil Society Working Group.