Russian Ambassador To U.S., A Fierce Critic Of The West, Dies Suddenly

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, died suddenly on Wednesday at 66 after about 20 months in the post, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

Darchiev, whom the Russian government praised as an “exceptional professional,” was known as a fierce critic of the West throughout his career, CNN reported. The Russian Foreign Ministry initially announced his sudden death without specifying a cause. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said he died in Moscow from an unspecified chronic illness, according to The Associated Press.

“We have lost an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a kind colleague and a mentor. An exceptional professional and a distinguished expert on the United States, Alexander Darchiev served in one of the most demanding areas of Russian foreign policy,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

His death comes as the Trump administration engages in another round of peace talks with Russia and Ukraine.

Darchiev became Russia’s ambassador to the United States in March 2025. Before that, he served as the Russian ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and headed the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department.

Darchiev ardently defended his regime’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as a “necessary measure” and celebrated Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, saying “Crimea is Russia, once and for all.”

He also played a role in early U.S.-Russia diplomacy under Trump. In February 2025, a week before his appointment as ambassador, Darchiev led the Russian delegation at talks with the United States in Istanbul on restoring embassy operations.

U.S.-mediated peace talks have yet to produce an agreement to end the war, which is approaching its fifth anniversary. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff, met with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi this week for more talks.

On Wednesday, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large prisoner-of-war swap, but no announcement was made on any agreement for a ceasefire or an end to the conflict.