New Russian envoy to US to present credentials on Thursday, State Dept says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's new ambassador to the United States will informally present his credentials to the Trump administration on Thursday, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

Alexander Darchiev, who was recently named as Russian ambassador to the U.S., will present credential at 2:15 eastern time (1815 GMT), according to the department's public schedule.

The department said Louis L. Bono, the Senior Bureau official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, will attend.

Moscow has not had an ambassador in the U.S. since its last ambassador left his post in October.

The new envoy previously served two long stints in Russia's Washington embassy and was ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. Like other senior Russian diplomats, he has been known in recent years for strong public denunciations of the United States and the West.

Darchiev's appointment comes as Russia and the United States try to mend damaged relations and end the war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what would be the first meeting between Russian and U.S. leaders since 2021.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Noeleen Walder)