Russia’s Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died at the age of 66, barely 18 months after assuming the diplomatic posting, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
The ministry disclosed his death in a statement but gave no details about the circumstances surrounding it.
Describing the late envoy as an “outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague”, the ministry paid tribute to his service and contributions to Russian diplomacy.
Darchiev was appointed ambassador to Washington in March 2025, shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term.
His appointment came against the backdrop of strained relations between Russia and Western nations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Before his appointment to Washington, Darchiev served as Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2021 to 2024.
He was also regarded as a specialist in Russia-US relations, having headed the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department from 2014 to 2020.
Darchiev had been involved in diplomatic engagements during a period of growing tensions between Moscow and Western governments.
In 2022, following Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, he defended Moscow’s action, describing it as a “necessary measure”.
His death comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions between Russia and the United States over the Ukraine war and other geopolitical issues.
Leave a Reply