Russia’s top diplomat at U.N. dies in New York City at 64

NEW YORK — Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, a veteran diplomat known as a potent and personable voice for his country’s interests as he sparred with his Western counterparts, died suddenly after falling ill Monday in his office at the mission.

Vitaly Churkin, 64, was taken to a hospital in New York, where he died, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, said. His cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

Churkin had been Russia’s envoy at the United Nations since 2006 and was considered Moscow’s great champion at the U.N.

Diplomatic colleagues from around the world mourned Churkin as a powerful and passionate voice for his nation, with both a deep knowledge of diplomacy and a colorful personality. He was the longest-serving member of the Security Council, the most powerful body.

Among many other issues, he had recently made Russia’s views heard on the conflict in Syria, sparring with diplomats from the U.S. and other Western countries over whether to impose sanctions or take action to end the conflict. President Vladimir Putin praised Churkin’s professionalism and diplomacy, according to the state news U.N.’s agency TASS. “The president was grieved to learn about the death of Vitaly Churkin,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the agency.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called Churkin an “outstanding” diplomat and expressed condolences to his friends and family. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a Facebook post that Churkin was “an extraordinary person. A bright man. We have lost a dear one.”

Churkin’s death came at the start of a week when the Security Council is expected to discuss Ukraine and Syria.