US Approves Alexander Darchiev as Russian Ambassador to Washington

The United States officially approved Alexander Darchiev as Russia’s new ambassador to Washington, filling the position that had remained vacant since last year marking a period of strained diplomatic ties between the two nations.

“The American side handed over an official note of agreement on (Darchiev’s) appointment,” the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

At 64 years old, Darchiev brings extensive experience in Russian diplomacy, having served in various roles since 1992. Most recently, he was the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North America Department, where he played a key role in shaping Russia’s policies toward the US and Canada.

He graduated from the Faculty of History at Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1983 and later pursued research at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1987, he defended his PhD thesis on left-liberal forces in US socio-political life during the 1970s and 1980s.

Fluent in English and French, Darchiev has spent a significant part of his diplomatic career – nearly a decade – serving in North America. His previous roles included adviser and minister-counselor at the Russian Embassy, and from 2014 to 2021, he was Russia’s Ambassador to Canada. Following this, he returned to Moscow to head the North Atlantic Department before his current appointment.

Darchiev’s appointment comes as both nations seek to rebuild diplomatic engagement. His departure to Washington is expected soon, marking a step toward easing tensions between the two countries.

This development follows the second round of discussions held in Istanbul on Thursday, aimed at resolving diplomatic disputes. In recent years, US-Russia relations have been marred by mutual embassy staff expulsions, particularly during the Biden administration.

The urgency to restore full diplomatic representation gained momentum after high-level talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marking the first official face-to-face discussions since Russia’s military actions in Ukraine three years ago.

US-Russia diplomatic relations started becoming strained after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, which was widely condemned by the international community. The Obama administration responded by ordering the closure of several Russian offices in the US.

Tensions further intensified after the 2018 poisoning of an exiled Russian spy and his daughter in Britain, which led to mass diplomatic expulsions and the closure of consulates in both countries. The situation reached a post-Cold War low following Russia’s 2022 military intervention in Ukraine, prompting further sanctions and diplomatic withdrawals.

Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has taken a pivot toward closer ties with Putin, sending shock waves through Europe. With the restoration of diplomatic functions, a new chapter in US-Russia relations has begun.

The Russian president on Thursday applauded the new US administration for “pragmatism, a realistic worldview” and described initial contacts with the Trump administration as “inspiring a certain degree of hope.”