Russia Appoints New Ambassador to US
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Alexander Darchiev as Russia’s new ambassador to Washington. Darchiev, a veteran diplomat, previously served in Washington and was Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021.
The U.S. approved his appointment last month. This comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries. A Russian delegation met with U.S. officials in Istanbul for a second round of talks, following an initial meeting in Saudi Arabia. The discussions did not include talks on Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Darchiev will replace Anatoly Antonov, who was dismissed as Russia’s ambassador to the US in 2024. The U.S. had largely severed diplomatic contacts with Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. However, under President Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. has started engaging more directly with Moscow while adopting a critical stance towards Ukraine.
Ukraine Faces New Challenges
Ukrainian forces have been downing Russian drones and missiles in recent days. The Air Force reported that 68 out of 112 drones were destroyed, as well as two ballistic missiles.
Fourteen people are seriously injured after a recent attack on the city of Odesa. This comes as Lithuania exits the treaty on nuclear-armed ground-launched cruise missiles (the Treaty on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces).
A New Era in US-Ukraine Relations?
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made remarks that echo Kremlin narratives, saying that the West is fighting Russia “with the hands of Ukrainians.” This has been denied by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office.
Meanwhile, Trump allies have reportedly met with Ukrainian opposition leaders to discuss potential peace talks. A senior European diplomat said that Ukraine and American delegations will meet soon for peace talks.
International Community Reacts
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski expressed concern about potential business disruptions between Poland and U.S. companies.
The Netherlands has pledged 3.5 billion euros in support to Ukraine next year. The EU is discussing a unified response to another influx of refugees from Ukraine amid US policy shifts.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
