U.S. Senators Demand Explanations Regarding Visit of Sanctioned Russian Deputies

Two U.S. senators, representing different political parties, have raised serious concerns regarding the recent visit of Russian deputies to Washington. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have reached out to Secretary of State Mark Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, requesting clarification on why Russian deputies, who are under sanctions, were granted access to the Capitol and held meetings with administration officials during the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran.

In their correspondence, the senators emphasized that the Russian delegation arrived in the United States with the intent of advancing the Kremlin's strategic objectives, including the gathering of intelligence. They noted that the Russian deputies had no intention of engaging in constructive dialogue or pursuing democratic goals. The lawmakers also pointed out that among the members of the State Duma are individuals who have participated in numerous cyberattacks against the U.S. and have facilitated war crimes against the Ukrainian population.

In their statement, Wicker and Shaheen highlighted that the Russian deputies who visited Washington included individuals who have publicly supported the Kremlin's aggressive actions. For instance, Vyacheslav Nikonov referred to the U.S. and NATO as the 'Fourth Reich' in 2023, while Mikhail Delyagin called for the destruction of Ukraine's energy sector. Boris Chernyshov, in turn, stated that Russian retaliatory strikes are an 'expression of hatred towards Ukraine.' This has raised further alarm among American lawmakers.

The visit of the Russian deputies took place at the end of last month and was organized by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida. She conducted a tour of the Capitol for the delegation, which drew criticism from other members of Congress who support Ukraine. Luna shared photographs with the Russian deputies, stating that this was the first meeting between U.S. Congress representatives and the Russian State Duma in the last 25 years, and that both countries should engage in open dialogue.

However, many other lawmakers, including members of the Republican Party, expressed outrage over this visit. Democratic Representative Mike Quigley emphasized that this visit poses a serious threat to the security of Congress and democracy as a whole. Another congressman, Joe Wilson, compared the meeting with the Russian delegation to a visit by representatives of the Third Reich, asserting that such individuals should not be welcomed in the U.S.

Additionally, Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin accused Luna of conducting a 'private tour of the Capitol for Putin's supporters,' stressing that the Russian officials did not accidentally receive visas but were allowed into the U.S. in advance. Senator Jeanne Shaheen also noted that sanctioned Russian officials could not enter the U.S. without the appropriate permissions.

In their correspondence, Senators Wicker and Shaheen pointed out that the visit occurred at a time when Russia's intentions are quite clear. They emphasized that European intelligence agencies have reported on Russia's plans to attack NATO member countries in the coming years. 'Putin has made it clear that peace in Ukraine is an illusion. His only ambition regarding Ukraine is to erase its existence,' the senators stated.

On March 26, it became known that a delegation of State Duma deputies from Russia, at the invitation of Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, arrived in the U.S. for the first time since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The delegation was supposed to be led by Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma committee, but he was unable to obtain a visa due to numerous allegations of sexual harassment. All members of the delegation are under U.S. sanctions for supporting the occupation of Crimea and participating in the war against Ukraine; however, the U.S. State Department allowed them to visit the country, which sparked outrage among American lawmakers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that prior to the departure of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Putin held a personal briefing for them. Moscow hopes that these 'cautious steps' will contribute to the restoration of bilateral relations between Russia and the U.S.