Kathrine Frich
A gesture from Moscow toward a Republican lawmaker has stirred quiet unease in Washington.
Russian envoys and think tanks have intensified outreach to political figures in Europe and the US who advocate reduced involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Analysts view such gestures as part of the Kremlin’s wider soft-power campaign to weaken Western unity on sanctions and military aid.
A symbolic gesture
According to The Moscow Times, Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna met with Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s special envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who is currently visiting the United States.
Dmitriev announced the meeting on Sunday, October 26, sharing photos of the encounter and revealing that he presented Luna with flowers and candy bearing the message “Great words from a great man.”
He said the sweets included “quotes” attributed to Putin, adding:
“The Russian people appreciate her efforts in support of peace.”
Dmitriev also claimed Luna had “confirmed her desire to hold a meeting” with Russian lawmakers in Moscow.
Political connections
Luna, 36, is regarded by Russian state media as a sympathetic figure in the US Congress due to her opposition to continued American support for Ukraine and her public calls for the US to withdraw from NATO.
She became known in Romania for her meeting with George Simion, leader of the nationalist AUR party, during the Romanian presidential campaign, when she voiced support for him publicly.
Diplomatic unease
The exchange took place amid a fraught phase in US–Russia relations, as the Trump administration seeks a new diplomatic approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
American diplomatic sources told Ziare.com that Luna’s willingness to engage directly with a Kremlin official has been met with unease in Washington, given Moscow’s recent efforts to court Western politicians critical of aid to Kyiv.
Luna has not issued an official statement about the meeting but reshared a photo of the gift on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Diplomacy begins with dialogue.”
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
