Next month, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will take up his new post as ambassador to Russia. Though 2020 might be the Trump administration’s final year, Sullivan has significant ambitions anyway.

He has three focuses: reaching accord with Russia on issues of mutual concern, expanding dialogue at various levels, and ensuring that Russia understands it will face serious consequences for any aggressive targeting of the 2020 election. While it’s highly unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin will somehow decide he wants rapprochement, there are good reasons to think Sullivan can make progress in Moscow.