Trump administration is working on, in my view," he added. Cook pointed out that the US must change its approach to Russia that it has had for the past several decades. "I think that our State Department needs to do more study on Russian history because it clearly has not read anything in the last 20 or 30 years," he said, adding that Russia should be one of America’s greatest friends. He also expressed confidence that Trump wants to be a friend of Russia. Appointed by Trump in January 2021, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr served at the Commission of Fine Arts until April 2022 when then-President Joe Biden terminated him from his position. Cook said that his criticism of Biden's handling of the Ukraine conflict cost him his job. Sputnik17:T5e3,

Friendship between the United States and Russia could pave the way for an entirely new paradigm for the entire world for centuries, former Commissioner of the US Commission of Fine Arts Rodney Mims Cook, Jr told RIA Novosti.

"An entire new paradigm of a US-Russia-Scandinavia-Baltics economic and military alliance could occur when a natural friendship between the US and Russia readjusts to a more peaceful planet, I would think, for centuries," Cook said.

He expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump is committed to working with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussing ideas to end the conflict in Ukraine.

"That really should happen faster than anything else the Trump administration is working on, in my view," he added.

Cook pointed out that the US must change its approach to Russia that it has had for the past several decades.

"I think that our State Department needs to do more study on Russian history because it clearly has not read anything in the last 20 or 30 years," he said, adding that Russia should be one of America’s greatest friends.

He also expressed confidence that Trump wants to be a friend of Russia.

Appointed by Trump in January 2021, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr served at the Commission of Fine Ar