It is of great sorrow that we have heard of the death of the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev. He served in that role for less than two years during a period of great tension—and of hope—in the US-Russia relationship. While working diligently to help convince the Trump Administration to shift its policy toward a more friendly view toward Russia, he kept the spirit of the traditional US-Russian friendship, which dated from the American Revolution to the present day, alive and well at the Embassy.

In spite of set-backs and “foot-dragging” on the part of the Administration to reestablish normal diplomatic ties between Russia and the US including returning to Russia the properties in the United States that were “confiscated” by the US government at the start of the Ukraine conflict, he maintained a cool optimism that the problems would ultimately be resolved. Speaking this year at the Russian Embassy’s May 7 Victory Day celebration in Washington Darchiev said, “The high point of our relations during the Great Patriotic War serves as an example and a positive event that undoubtedly contributes to the normalization of our bilateral relations. Again the process is slow, and world events also have tragic implications, but if Russia and the United States stand together, and if China joins us, I believe we will resolve all issues.” Perhaps we may see some of this at the upcoming APEC Summit in November, where the leaders of these three nations may meet together for the first time.

He also continued to hold high at the Embassy the banner of Russian culture, an important element in our common world culture, celebrating it both for the extensive Russian community living here as well as for the greater diplomatic and social community in the nation’s capital. His fortitude, his love of Russia and his quiet humor will be sorely missed at this critical time in US-Russia relations, and our condolences go out to his family and the entire Russian diplomatic community here in the United States.