Alexander Darchiev, the Russian ambassador to the United States, has died at 66.
No cause of death was initially provided, with the Russian Foreign Ministry announcement only saying he “passed away suddenly.” Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s official spokesperson, later issued a statement on Telegram saying Darchiev had died in Moscow from a “chronic illness.”
The ministry also described Darchiev as “an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a kind friend, and a mentor.”
“Alexander Darchiev served in one of the most demanding areas of Russian foreign policy,” the statement said. “We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Alexander Darchiev’s family and loved ones.”
He was viewed as a seasoned diplomat, particularly with the West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Darchiev to the post in Washington, D.C., in March 2025.
Darchiev was viewed as a seasoned diplomat, particularly with the West, having previously served at Russia’s embassy in Washington in the late 2000s before moving back to Russia to work in the Foreign Ministry. He also spent six years in Canada as Russia’s ambassador there.
At left, an empty seat for Russian Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev, who was invited to the hearing and did not attend, is seen during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing titled “The Abduction of Ukrainian Children by the Russian Federation” on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC on December 3, 2025.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Before taking over his post in the U.S., Darchiev had spoken about his desire for relations between the U.S. and Russia to normalize.
Trump had accepted Darchiev’s credentials last year.
“Russia and the United States are destined, as great powers, to have a non-confrontational, peaceful existence,” he said last year after formally presenting his diplomatic credentials to President Donald Trump.
“It was a great honour for me, as Russian ambassador, to speak with President Trump,” he said. “I assured him that I and this embassy under my direction will do everything to restore Russian-American relations and bring them back to normality and common sense.”
Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev on stage with Dr. William Brumfield at the Russian Embassy during “A Creative Evening with Professor William Brumfield,” commemorating the 227th birthday of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin on June 26, 2026.
More recently, Darchiev joined Putin in Alaska for a failed summit between the Russian dictator and Trump.
Nothing much came out of Trump’s summit with Putin.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
There, he had also reiterated his desire for relations between the Kremlin and Washington to normalize.
“They have not been interrupted, they continue. We hope to achieve certain results in accordance with the instructions of the Presidents,” Darchiev said at the time.
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