The corresponding memorandum signed by the head of state is published on the website of the US Treasury.

Tillerson becomes responsible for securing at the legislative level the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the administration of the previous President Barack Obama because of the situation in Ukraine.

In addition, he will oversee the implementation of a number of articles of the law on sanctions, adopted later because of the cyber attacks attributed to Moscow and accusations of interference in the American elections. It is the Secretary of State who is to make decisions on issuing visas to persons who "damage cybersecurity," acting in the interests of Russia.

Russian senator Alexei Pushkov, commenting on Tillerson's new duties, suggested that the Secretary of State soon come to the same conclusion as to what now came the former US ambassador to Russia, John Tefft. Namely: anti-Russian sanctions do not affect the situation in Ukraine.

"Tefft has already admitted that sanctions against Russia have not changed the situation in Ukraine. Soon curator Tillerson will be convinced of this, if he is not already convinced, "Pushkov wrote in his tweet.