Russia said on Friday it was sending a new ambassador to Washington, the latest sign of a thaw between the two countries as they try to mend their damaged relations and seek an end to the war in Ukraine.

Russia's foreign ministry announced that it would appoint Alexander Darchiyev, a career diplomat who currently leads the ministry's North America department, to the role in Washington.

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 Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that Russia received agrément for the appointment of Alexander Darchiyev as ambassador to the United States. Source: Russian Foreign Ministry's website, as reported by European Pravda Details: The statement says that during consultations between Russian and US delegations on 27 February in Istanbul,

The United States has approved the appointment of a new Russian ambassador, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aleksandr Darchiyev is expected to leave for Washington "in the near future.

The United States has approved the appointment of a new Russian ambassador, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aleksandr Darchiyev is expected to leave for Washington “in the near future.