Do try to keep up...Huntsman is our Ambassador to Russia; he is out of the country, living in Russia.
Read the Opinion piece again. It easily could be written by an outsider with communication to the White House staff. The example they highlight is Russian Foreign policy. He definitely would be in constant communication with this staff at a minimum.
I re-read the piece and nothing convinces me he is not in day to day communication. Huntsmen’s own words. We set policy.
If you have occasion to visit us in Moscow, I will introduce you to hundreds of colleagues, who are the most highly trained in their field with years of experience working in Russia. Representatives of our foreign service, civil service, military and intelligence services have neither the time nor inclination to obsess over politics, though the issues of the day are felt by all. Their focus is on the work that needs to be done to stabilize the most dangerous relationship in the world, one that encompasses nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism, stopping bloodshed in Ukraine, and seeking a settlement of the seemingly intractable Syrian crisis. Their dedication to service to their country is above politics, and it inspires me to the core. It is my standard.