MOSCOW - Russia's foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that Alexander Darchiev, the country's ambassador to the United States, has died "suddenly" at the age of 66, according to a report by AFP carried by The Guardian. The ministry called him an outstanding diplomat and an experienced leader, the outlet reported.

The Guardian also reported that Darchiev had been in the Washington post for one and a half years and that he previously served as ambassador to Canada. The report did not describe the circumstances of his death beyond the ministry's word that it was sudden.

Fox News reported that Darchiev, 66, had been appointed by Putin to lead a rapprochement with the Trump administration. The outlet's summary identified him as Russia's ambassador to the United States.

The New York Times reported that the death was announced by Russia's foreign ministry. The newspaper said Darchiev was appointed to his Washington post in 2025, as relations between the Kremlin and the White House warmed. The report was written by Ephrat Livni.

None of the three reports, as summarized, gives a cause of death. The Guardian, Fox News and the New York Times all describe the appointment and the announcement from Moscow, but the available summaries do not add further detail on the timing or the circumstances of his death.

Sources: The Guardian: Russia’s ambassador to the United States dies, aged 66; Fox News: Russian Ambassador to US Alexander Darchiev dies suddenly at 66; The New York Times: Alexander Darchiev, Russia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Dies at 66.