Russian Ambassador to US Alexander Darchiev dies suddenly

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died suddenly at the age of 66.

He died on Wednesday (November 11), the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed. However, the ministry did not disclose the cause of his death.

In a statement, the ministry said Darchiev had died unexpectedly while serving as Russia’s ambassador to the United States. It described him as an “outstanding diplomat, experienced leader and kind colleague”.

The veteran diplomat was known for his strong criticism of Western countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him ambassador to the United States in March 2025, with one of the key objectives being to revive diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Relations between Moscow and Washington deteriorated sharply after Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in Ukraine in 2022. The United States provided direct military assistance to Ukraine and imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia.

However, after Donald Trump took office as US president, prospects emerged for easing tensions and restoring more normal relations between the two countries.

Before taking up his post in Washington, Darchiev served as Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. He subsequently headed the North American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry before being appointed ambassador to the United States in March 2025.