Russia's ambassador to the US, Alexander Darchiev, dies suddenly at 66
Alexander Darchiev, Russia's ambassador to the United States, has died "suddenly" at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday. He had held the post for about a year and a half.
The announcement
The ministry described Darchiev as "a brilliant expert on American affairs" who worked "in one of the most critical areas of Russian foreign policy," Anadolu Agency reported. Its initial statement did not give a cause of death.
Zakharova later said he had a chronic illness and accused US journalists of spreading conspiracy theories about his death, according to The Moscow Times. The Kremlin did not immediately comment, and US officials had issued no statement, the paper said.
An outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, and a kind friend and mentor has passed away.
A career built on North America
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Born in Budapest |
| 1983 | Graduates from Moscow State University |
| 1992 | Joins the Foreign Ministry |
| March 2025 | Becomes ambassador to the United States |
| Nov. 11, 2026 | Death announced, aged 66 |
Source: The Moscow Times; The Guardian.
Darchiev spent his diplomatic career on North American affairs, The Moscow Times reported. He held senior posts at the embassy in Washington, ran the ministry's North America department and served as ambassador to Canada.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he called it a "necessary measure," The Guardian reported. Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev has described him as a protégé of Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov, according to The Moscow Times.
Diplomacy goes on
On Thursday morning, Witkoff and Kushner landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, where they were met by Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, TASS reported. They were due to meet Putin before flying to Dublin to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the BBC said.
At the time of his appointment, observers said Darchiev was unlikely to wield much influence because Moscow and Washington handle major issues at a higher level, The Moscow Times noted.