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The flag of Russia flies in front of the Russian embassy on Oct. 3, 2024, in Washington, U.S. (Valerie Plesch/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on March 6 appointing Alexander Darchiev as Russia's new ambassador to Washington.

Darchiev, a veteran diplomat with a half-decade of experience in Washington, previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and later as the director of the North American Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The U.S. approved his appointment last month amid renewed diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Russia. A Russian delegation met U.S. officials in Istanbul on Feb. 27 for a second round of talks, following an initial meeting in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18.

While the first meeting reportedly focused on Moscow's war against Ukraine, the second round did not include discussions on the war, a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Istanbul discussions centered on embassy operations.

The previous Russian ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, was dismissed from his post on Oct. 10, 2024.

Under former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, the U.S. had largely severed official diplomatic contacts with Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office has shifted U.S. foreign policy. His administration engages more directly with Moscow while adopting a more critical stance toward Ukraine. Trump has also paused military and intelligence sharing with Kyiv to pressure Ukraine to enter peace talks.

Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia — a ‘huge win’ for Putin, ‘chaos’ for global economy
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly ready to lift sanctions on Russia imposed after the start of the full-scale invasion, in a reversal of U.S. policy toward Moscow during its war against Ukraine. The White House is preparing a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief

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5:03 PM

Russia advancing and ex-official assassination | Ukraine This Week.

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur shares key takeaways from Monday’s phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Wednesday’s assassination of a controversial Ukrainian ex-official. Also, Russia is advancing in Sumy Oblast.
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