Veteran diplomat Darchiev heads to Washington as Russia’s new envoy

Russian Ambassador to Washington Alexander Darchiev is set to depart for the United States on March 26.

“The ambassador is expected to leave for Washington on March 26,” said the source who spoke to the Russian state-run agency TASS, per Caliber.Az.

Darchiev’s appointment was approved by the US government following a diplomatic exchange that took place on February 27 in Istanbul. During discussions between the Russian and US delegations, Washington officially handed over a note of agreement for his appointment. This approval comes after the position remained vacant since the departure of Anatoly Antonov in 2024.

At 64, Darchiev brings extensive experience in Russian diplomacy. Born in Hungary, he graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in Historical Sciences.

Over the course of his career, he has held several key positions, including serving as the director of the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry and as Russia’s Ambassador to Canada. Additionally, he has held various diplomatic roles at the Russian Embassy in the United States, making him well-versed in North American affairs and a strong candidate for this high-profile appointment.

In February 2025, Darchiev played a significant role as the head of the Russian delegation during the first official talks between Russia and the United States since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Representing the US in these discussions was Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary of state for Eurasia.

Meanwhile, Washington has also signaled its intention to appoint Richard Norland as the next US ambassador to Russia. Since 2023, the American diplomatic mission in Moscow has been led by Lynne Tracy.

By Tamilla Hasanova