Russian ambassador to US 'suddenly' dies, Moscow says

The Russian ambassador to the US has "suddenly" died, Moscow's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Alexander Darchiev, 66, was appointed to the key diplomatic post in 2025.

Moscow said the announcement was made with "profound sorrow" after he "suddenly died".

Mr Darchiev, who previously served as ambassador to Canada, served in "one of the most critical areas of Russian foreign policy", the Kremlin said.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "An outstanding diplomat, experienced leader, good friend, and mentor has passed away."

It added: "We express our deepest and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Alexander Nikitich Darchiev.

"The bright memory of our untimely departed colleague will forever remain in our hearts."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said he had been struggling with a chronic illness.

He had returned to Moscow to receive treatment for a long-term condition, according to CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter.

A US State Department spokesman told the US outlet they were aware of his death and offered their condolences to his family and loved ones.

Mr Darchiev's tenure as US ambassador came as relations between the countries thawed.

In June, he met with Donald Trump and pledged to restore full diplomatic ties.

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"Russia and the United States are destined, as great powers, to have non-confrontational peaceful existence," he said at the time.

"It was a great honour for me, as Russian ambassador, to speak with President Trump and I assured him that I and this embassy under my direction will do everything to restore Russian-American relations and bring them back to normality and common sense."

Months after he was appointed to the role, the President and Vladimir Putin held a joint summit in Alaska to discuss ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

That meeting and subsequent talks have, so far, failed to end the war.

In February last year, he said the US was tying discussions on certain issues to "a settlement in Ukraine that suits its interests", which he disagreed with.

Trilateral talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine have resumed this week in Abu Dhabi.

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, said they were "very productive", but that there was still work to be done.

Vitaly Churkin, an ambassador to the UN, died suddenly just one day before his 65th birthday nearly a decade ago.