The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that Ambassador Alexander Darchiev died suddenly at age 66.
“The leadership and staff of the Russian Foreign Ministry announce with profound sorrow the sudden passing of Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States Alexander Darchiev on November 11, at the age of 66,” the ministry said in a statement on Nov. 11.
“We have lost an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a dear colleague and a mentor. A consummate professional and a distinguished expert on American affairs, Alexander Darchiev devoted his career to one of the most important areas of Russian foreign policy,” the statement continued.
The ministry extended “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to his family and friends. No further details on the circumstances were provided.
Darchiev’s death came the same day U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded a second day in Abu Dhabi. Officials said the two sides agreed to a large prisoner exchange as American negotiators prepared to meet both presidents in an effort to end the war.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner described the discussions as “pretty tough” and “very substantive.”
“We were able to do a good exchange of ideas—some areas we see places where we can find compromises, others we need to have more discussions,” he told reporters.
Kushner and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff were scheduled to travel to Moscow the following day for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In October, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that waived sanctions, restrictions, and duties on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. He said he had reached an understanding with Putin under which Russia would supply diesel to the United States in return for a temporary easing of sanctions.
In an Oct. 9 Truth Social post, Trump stated that Russia would deliver more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global markets, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and an additional 1 million tons after that.
On Oct. 21, Putin met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg and agreed to continue U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine, focused on security guarantees once the war ends.
“I know that President Trump is paying special attention to this, primarily for humanitarian reasons,” Putin said, according to Russian news agency TASS. He expressed gratitude toward First Lady Melania Trump for her “contribution to resolving humanitarian issues.”
Darchiev assumed the Washington post in late March 2025 after leading Russia’s delegation at talks in Istanbul earlier that year aimed at normalizing embassy operations.
Born in 1960, Darchiev graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1983 and entered the diplomatic service in 1992. He served as minister-counselor at the Russian Embassy in the United States from 2005 to 2010, director of the North America Department from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2021 to 2024, and ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021.
By presidential decree on March 6, 2025, he was appointed ambassador to the United States.
Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.
