WASHINGTON — John Sullivan, the Trump administration's nominee to become deputy secretary of state, told a Senate committee Tuesday that Russian interference in elections in the United States and Europe requires a "robust" response.



At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sullivan cited cyberattacks blamed on Moscow that targeted the United States, France and the Netherlands, and said he was concerned Russia may interfere with upcoming elections in Germany and Italy.



"I believe we have to be robust in our response to this intrusion into our democracy," he said. "Interference with our political processes is simply unacceptable. It's a profound threat to our way of life, and we have to respond as robustly as possible with all of the means we have at our disposal."



Sullivan's comments on Russia come a day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to meet in Washington with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The ongoing wars in Syria and Ukraine are on the agenda, but Tillerson also is expected to talk about Moscow's suspected role in spreading disinformation and hacked emails, most recently in France.



When Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., asked whether U.S. sanctions on Russia should be continued, Sullivan suggested they might even be increased.



"I believe they should be reviewed to make sure they're adequate," he said. "They should be kept in place and potentially ratcheted up as necessary."



Sullivan's hearing also served as a forum on the uncertain future of the State Department, which has been dogged by unfilled senior positions as it faces deep budget cuts, a major reorganization and a refocus of its mission.



Sullivan had few answers when asked for specifics about what is planned for the department. He repeatedly said that Tillerson is just starting a top-to-bottom review of how it's organized. So far, he said, no firm decisions have been made on staff cuts, whether to merge USAID functions, and which of the 67 special envoys and representatives may be eliminated.



Several senators complained that they are not getting any information from the State Department, and Sullivan said he believes in consulting and coordinating with Congress before making changes.



"My perception as an outsider is that any slowness making appointments is not related to the review of mission and restructuring ongoing," he said. "I commit, if confirmed, I will make sure personnel appointments are moved forward as quickly as possible."



Sullivan was peppered with questions about the role of human rights in diplomacy, particularly from senators troubled by Tillerson's remarks to employees last week that concerns about human rights and U.S. values sometimes get in the way of national security goals.



"We need someone who has the moral clarity Nikki Haley has," said Menendez about the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, noting there has been little mention of human rights and democracy promotion. "I hope you have that moral clarity as the number two person."



"I am committed to making the State Department the preeminent force to protect American values and promote American values in the world," Sullivan said.



His opening remarks gave a hint of where some of his own values come from. In 1979, when Sullivan was a college student, an uncle was one of the U.S. diplomats inside the U.S. Embassy in Tehran when it was seized and they were taken hostage.



"I've remained in awe of our Foreign Service officers who venture into dangerous places on our behalf," Sullivan said, before noting that his wife, a Cuban American, has a relative who was a political prisoner in Cuba.



Sullivan is a prominent Republican lawyer who worked in senior legal jobs at the Defense, Commerce and Justice departments in the administrations of presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.



The deputy is considered the chief foreign policy adviser and what the State Department's website characterizes as the "alter ego" of the secretary.



The deputy's portfolio has being expanded since Tillerson decided to merge the No. 2 job with what had been a separate position, deputy secretary of state for management and resources.