President Vladimir Putin gave US special envoy Steve Witkoff the Order of Lenin to deliver to Juliane Gallina, CBS News reported on 8/8, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Gallina is the mother of 21-year-old Michael Gloss, a US citizen who died fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024. She is also the deputy director of digital innovation at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
According to sources, Putin gave the medal to Witkoff during the US envoy's visit to Russia this week to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine and a potential US-Russia summit.
Spokespeople for the White House, CIA, and Witkoff did not respond to requests for comment. The Kremlin has not confirmed the information from CBS News.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Photo: RIA Novosti |
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Photo: RIA Novosti
The Order of Lenin is a prestigious award from the Soviet era, given to those who made outstanding contributions to the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia.
Gloss's family obituary stated that he fought in the Russian army's 137th Guards Airborne Regiment and died on 4/4/2024 in a battle in the Donbas region.
In a statement in April, the CIA confirmed Gloss's death but stressed that it was a private family matter and not related to national security. The CIA at the time said Gallina's family had suffered an "unimaginable tragedy" in losing their son.
Two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that there was no indication that the Russian government recruited Gloss, and the Kremlin seemed unaware of Gloss's background when it repatriated his body.
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Michael Gloss, son of CIA official Juliane Gallina. Photo: NBC News |
Michael Gloss, son of CIA official Juliane Gallina. Photo: NBC News
The news comes amid improving US-Russia relations, with the leaders of the two countries scheduled to meet for a summit in Alaska on 15/8.
Relations between the two countries previously escalated when President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum that he would impose sanctions if Russia did not reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine by 8/8.
However, it remains unclear whether this summit can bring peace closer in Ukraine after three rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey failed to yield substantial progress.
Duc Trung (According to CBS News, RIA Novosti)
