New envoy to traverse strained Russia-US diplomatic ties
The United States has issued an agreement for the appointment of a new Russian ambassador, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aleksandr Darchiyev is expected to depart for Washington "in the near future."
Much of the information provided by Russian media or officials can be elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of an information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
"Following the agreement between Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov to initiate talks on issues affecting the operations of our respective diplomatic missions, delegations from both countries met on February 27 in Istanbul, Turkey. The U.S. delegation was led by Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Russia and Central Europe, and the Russian delegation was led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs North Atlantic Department Director Ambassador Aleksandr Darchiyev," the ministry announced.
Departure to the USA "in the near future"
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that "his departure for his place of service in Washington is expected in the near future."
On Thursday, Russian-American consultations concerning the activities of the diplomatic missions of both countries took place in Istanbul.
The diplomat is 64 years old. He speaks English and French. He has been serving in the diplomatic service since 1992. Darciyev has spent roughly 10 years in the Russian diplomatic mission in Washington. From 1997 to 2002, he held the position of embassy counsellor, and from 2005 to 2010, he worked as a minister-counsellor.
From October 2014 to January 2021, he served as the Russian ambassador to Canada. Subsequently, since January 2021, he has been the director of the North American Department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (currently the North Atlantic Department).
Key statements by Darchiyev
At the end of 2022, in an interview with the TASS agency, Darchiyev stated that relations between Moscow and Washington are "on their last breath." He expressed hope that Washington would show reason and avoid a direct confrontation with Russia, the diplomat said.
However, he emphasised that Moscow and Washington will still have to "talk and come to an agreement." In his opinion, the American side should abandon "messianism and a mentor-like, inflated tone."
Darciyev pointed out that the American arms industry has significantly profited from the "Ukrainian conflict," and some representatives of the U.S. political elite view the "war to the last Ukrainian" as a beneficial investment. He also claimed that serious negotiations on this issue are impossible without acknowledging the current realities on the battlefield.
