Putin Appoints Ambassador to the U.S.... Accelerating Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

Signs of Normalization in U.S.-Russia Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Aleksandr Darchiyev, Director of the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the new Ambassador to the United States on the 6th (local time). This marks the appointment of a new ambassador to the U.S. five months after former Ambassador Anatoly Antonov returned to Russia in October last year, signaling signs of normalization in U.S.-Russia relations.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 27th of last month that the United States agreed to Darchiyev's appointment as ambassador during the U.S.-Russia working-level talks held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Earlier, the two countries have been working toward normalization of relations following a phone call between their leaders on the 12th of last month. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with the U.S. delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the 18th of last month, where they agreed on the appointment of the ambassador to the U.S.

If relations between the two countries normalize, it is expected to accelerate discussions on ending the war in Ukraine.

According to Russian media outlets such as TASS and Kommersant, Ambassador Darchiyev graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University and holds a Ph.D. in history. He served at the Russian Embassy in the U.S. from 1997 to 2002 and again from 2005 to 2010, and was Ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021.

Kommersant also reported that Lynne Tracy, the current U.S. Ambassador to Russia, could be replaced by Richard Noland, a diplomat with 35 years of experience who has served as Ambassador to Suriname and other posts.