Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has passed away.
CNN reports that the announcement was made on Wednesday, November 11, by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which stated that he died in Moscow at age 66 after battling a chronic illness.
“Alexander Darchiev served in one of the most demanding areas of Russian foreign policy,” the ministry’s statement declared, noting that he “passed away suddenly.
The statement went on to describe the ambassador as “an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a kind friend, and a mentor,” as well as “a consummate professional and a brilliant expert on American affairs” who “served in one of the most critical areas of Russian foreign policy.”
“We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Alexander Darchiev’s family and loved ones,” the statement added.
A cause of death was not provided, although CNN noted the World Bank estimates the average lifespan of a Russian male at 68 years.
Russia’s Ambassador Since March 2025
A source told CNN that the Russian ambassador — who had only been in the position for about a year-and-a-half — left the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C. in order to return to Moscow in order to undergo treatment for an unspecified illness.
Described by CNN as “a veteran diplomat known for his stinging condemnations of the West,” Darchiev began serving as ambassador in March 2025.
During his brief tenure, relations between the U.S. and Russia softened considerably compared to those during President Joe Biden’s term, with President Donald Trump opening bilateral talks with Moscow while scaling back aid to Ukraine.
Prior to serving as ambassador the the U.S., Darchiev was head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North America Department. He also served at Russia’s diplomatic mission in the United States, and spent more than a decade as Russia’s ambassador to Canada, serving in that post from from 2014 to 2021.
A Career Diplomat
According to The New York Times, Darchiev had been in the diplomatic service since 1992.
In February 2025, shortly before being appointed ambassador by Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, Darchiev led a Russian delegation that met with U.S. officials in Istanbul. At the time, he was director of the North Atlantic Department, described by the Times as “a section of the Russian foreign ministry that oversees relations with Canada, Ireland, Britain and the United States.”
“The dialogue on irritants has been ongoing, and certain improvements have been achieved,” Darchiev told Russian newspaper Kommersant last year, discussing improved relations between United States and Russia after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
However, in that interview Darchiev also accused the U.S. of bogging down discussions on certain issues, particularly Russia’s access to seized diplomatic properties in the United States, objecting to what he saw as the U.S. attempting to broker “a settlement in Ukraine that suits its interests.”
Alexander Darchiev: Russian Ambassador to the United States Dies Suddenly