Vitaly Churkin

Ukraine’s decision to block the adoption by the UN Security Council of a statement dedicated to the late Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was a disgraceful act.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Ukraine’s actions…

“I know how the UN works. I believe that [Ukraine’s] permanent representative would not do this on his own. This means that he was ordered to do it,” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is quoted as saying in a Sputnik report.

Vitaly Churkin was one of the wisest voices in international diplomacy.  His voice will no longer echo in the halls of the United Nations. Articulate, polite yet commanding, wise yet affable, he oversaw some of Russia’s and the world’s most important events in a position he occupied since 2006.

RT | February 20, 2017 Vitaly Churkin, who served as Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations since 2006, “died suddenly” in New York, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. Churkin would have turned 65 on Tuesday. The announcement “of the untimely passing away of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin this morning” was met with shock when it […]

Not only Russia, but the entire diplomatic community around the world is mourning the passing of Vitaly Churkin – Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
Vitaly Churkin leaves the world as one of the greatest and most respected diplomats – here are some of his best moments over the decades.

21st Century Wire says…

The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced the shock news of the death of Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s veteran ambassador to the UN.
Churkin was just short of 65 years old.
There is no word yet of the reasons for Churkin’s death, but the task of representing Russia at the UN Security Council in the ten years since his appointment in 2006, must have been exhausting.

With Donald Trump remaining consistent in his rhetoric about his desire to have better and more cooperative relations with Russia whilst continuing his verbal attacks on Iran, many have suspected that Russia, a strategic Iranian ally, might adopt the role of mediator in the dispute.