Russia’s US ambassador Alexander Darchiev dies at 66

Darchiev took the US post in March 2025 after serving in Canada

Russia’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that Alexander Darchiev, who served as Russia’s ambassador to the United States, had died suddenly at 66.

Darchiev had held the position for one and a half years.

The ministry called Darchiev an “outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague.”

Moscow did not give more details about the death.

Darchiev was appointed to the US post in March 2025. His appointment came shortly after Donald Trump returned to power and several years into Moscow’s Ukraine offensive, which had pitted Moscow against the West.

Darchiev specialized in Russia-US relations and directed the foreign ministry’s North America department from 2014 to 2020.

Before taking the US post, Darchiev served as Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2021 to 2024.

In 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine, Darchiev called the move a “necessary measure.”