Russian ambassador to the US dies, Russia's foreign ministry announced

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

He "passed away suddenly," said Russia's Foreign Ministry in a statement published on X without giving more details on the cause of his death.

"We have lost an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a kind colleague and a mentor," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Alexander Darchiev’s family and loved ones."

Darchiev held several positions within Russia’s Foreign Ministry before replacing Anatoly Antonov as ambassador to the US in early 2025, shortly after Donald Trump's election.

He previously served at Russia's embassy in Washington in the late 2000s and spent six years as Russia's ambassador to Canada between 2014 and 2021.

Veteran diplomat appointed by Vladimir Putin, Darchiev was known for his repeated condemnations of the West.

This death comes as Moscow and Washington struggle to restore deteriorated relations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the time, Darchiev called the move a "necessary measure."