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Russia Today
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trump-Putin phone call: What has changed since the last time they talked?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump will hold their second direct phone conversation in as many months on Tuesday. The conversation could possibl lead to a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict. Their calls scheduled for 1300 GMT, comes after weeks of intense diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Washington, as well as Kiev and its US and European backers. Here's an overview of key developments since Putin and Trump last spoke on February 12. Upon beginning his second presidential term in January, Trump departed from the policy of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who sought the diplomatic 'isolation' of Russia in response to its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Trump administration officials argue that mature statesmanship involves dialogue with both allies and adversaries, pointing to historic US-Soviet interactions during the Cold War. On February 18, senior diplomats from Russia and the US met in Saudi Arabia to address the breakdown in communications. They agreed to normalize the operations of their diplomatic missions, which had previously been hindered by mutual restrictions.A follow-up meeting in Türkiye a week later led to tangible progress, as the US accepted Aleksandr Darchiev as Russia's new ambassador to Washington. Darchiev, previously head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's North America Department, represented Moscow during the talks in Istanbul. Central to Trump's diplomatic reset with Russia has been his refusal to continue Biden's commitment of indefinite support for Kiev. The new US administration now emphasizes that Ukraine must be willing to compromise to end the conflict. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky initially resisted this shift. During a tense meeting at the White House on February 28, he openly challenged Trump's approach to mediation, prompting the Ukrainian delegation's abrupt departure and a temporary suspension of US aid and intelligence sharing. Kiev has since moderated several key demands, notably dropping its insistence on Western security guarantees as a prerequisite to negotiations. After bilateral discussions in Jeddah last week, Zelensky publicly endorsed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine's negotiating position has been further weakened by battlefield setbacks in Russia's Kursk Region, where Moscow's forces have largely expelled Ukrainian troops following an incursion in August 2024. The offensive, which has cost Kiev over 68,000 troops killed, wounded or taken prisoner, was aimed at gaining leverage for peace negotiations by seizing internationally recognized Russian territory. However, following Russia's recent liberation of the town of Sudzha – once pivotal for Ukrainian military operations – Kiev declared its objectives in the incursion 'achieved.' The Ukrainian military maintains its forces withdrew from the area in an orderly way and denies Russian and American assertions of near-encirclement. Putin has expressed support for Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire but emphasized that Moscow will not permit Kiev to exploit the pause for military regrouping or reinforcement. Russia insists any suspension of hostilities must include freezing arms deliveries and halting forced conscription in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials, alongside several Western European leaders, have alleged Putin opposes a ceasefire, urging Trump to retaliate by increasing military aid and sanctions against Russia. Some media reports criticized Moscow for allegedly disrespecting Trump by making his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, 'wait eight hours' for a meeting with Putin – a claim the US president has dismissed as 'fake news.'
Reuters
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Putin appoints Alexander Darchiyev as Russia's new ambassador to Washington
MOSCOW, March 6 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Alexander Darchiyev as the new ambassador to the United States, according to decree published on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry said last week Washington had given it the green light to appoint Darchiyev at a meeting between Russian and U.S. officials in Turkey. Darchiyev is a career diplomat who has served two long spells in Russia's Washington embassy and was ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. He is currently head of the Foreign Ministry's North America Department.
Russia Today
01-03-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
US approves Moscow's new envoy
The United States has approved Aleksandr Darchiev as Moscow's new ambassador to Washington, Russia's Foreign Ministry has announced after bilateral talks in Türkiye this week. Darchiev, a senior diplomat with more than 30 years of experience, currently heads the Foreign Ministry's North Atlantic Department. He previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and has held several high-ranking positions within the ministry, including deputy director of the North America Department and counselor at the Russian embassy in Washington. His appointment follows diplomatic discussions in Istanbul on Thursday, where Russian and US officials addressed issues affecting their embassies. The two nations are working to mend strained relations that deteriorated under the previous administration of US President Joe Biden. Talks focused on resuming regular operations at the US embassy in Moscow and the Russian embassy in Washington, with both sides identifying 'concrete initial steps,' according to the US State Department. In a statement on Friday, Russia's Foreign Ministry emphasized that normalization should be a reciprocal process. Both countries have imposed various restrictions on each other in recent years, including reducing diplomatic staff, limiting banking access, and seizing diplomatic properties. Moscow maintains its measures are in direct response to actions taken by Washington. Darchiev represented Russia at the talks, while the US delegation was led by Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary of state for Eurasian affairs. The negotiations followed an earlier round of discussions on February 18 in Riyadh, where both sides agreed to restore staffing levels at their respective diplomatic missions. Darchiev's predecessor, Anatoly Antonov, served as Russia's ambassador to the US for seven years before returning to Moscow in October 2024.
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia says US has given it green light to appoint a new ambassador to Washington
MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the United States had given Moscow its official blessing to appoint Alexander Darchiyev as its new ambassador to Washington. The American side had handed over an official note green-lighting Darchiyev's appointment during talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said. Darchiyev, currently head of the Foreign Ministry's North America Department, will leave for Washington soon. Moscow has not had an envoy in the U.S. since the last ambassador left his post in October.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia says US has given it green light to appoint a new ambassador to Washington
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the United States had given Moscow its official blessing to appoint Alexander Darchiyev as its new ambassador to Washington. The American side had handed over an official note green-lighting Darchiyev's appointment during talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said. Darchiyev, currently head of the Foreign Ministry's North America Department, will leave for Washington soon. Moscow has not had an envoy in the U.S. since the last ambassador left his post in October.
