The UN General Assembly began on Tuesday with a minute of silence in memory of the Russian envoy.
"Truly and simultaneously, a patriot and an internationalist, Ambassador Churkin was truly one-of-a-kind – an outstanding diplomat, a man of many talents and interests, and a human being whose friendship touched many of us here in this hall today," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated.
Guterres remarked on Churkin's ability to defend Russia's interests while simultaneously advocating for a stronger United Nations.
"May you rest in peace. May the earth be a soft bed for you," Guterres finished in Russian.
"Vitaly Churkin was truly one of a kind. He was an ever eloquent voice at the United Nations, and we will remember him for his brilliance, his wisdom and his sharp sense of humor," distinguished US representative Michele Sison said in a statement.
Sison noted that while she did not always see things the same way with Churkin, the Russian ambassador had an eye for identifying compromise.
"The UN community has experienced the shock and a loss and we miss Churkin's presence here," Sison added.
UK Ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft remarked that Churkin exhibited the highest level of diplomatic professionalism and deep knowledge of the workings of the UN Security Council.
"He was a true professional who treated his colleagues with respect and enjoyed utmost respect of everyone in return," Rycroft concluded.
