Washington — Russian President Vladimir Putin gave President Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff an award to go alongside to a senior CIA official whose son was killed in Ukraine whereas preventing alongside Russian forces, in keeping with sources accustomed to the matter.
The award, the Order of Lenin, was meant to be handed off to Juliane Gallina, whose 21-year-old son, Michael Gloss, was killed in 2024.
Gallina is at present serving on the CIA as deputy director for digital innovation. It couldn’t be instantly decided what was carried out with the award.
A number of sources informed CBS Information that Putin gave Witkoff the award throughout his journey to Russia this week, which a Russian official stated the U.S. initiated, to debate ending the Ukraine battle.
The gesture by Putin, recognized for thoughts video games and makes an attempt to show adversaries’ factors of weak point, was doubtless meant to boost unhelpful questions and spotlight {that a} CIA official’s son fought for Russia within the battle.
GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Photos
In an announcement in April, CIA officers stated the loss of life of Gallina’s son, who struggled with psychological well being challenges, was not a nationwide safety concern. Two sources accustomed to the matter informed CBS Information there was no indication that Gloss had been recruited by the Russian authorities, and that the Kremlin didn’t seem to pay attention to Gloss’s household background when it repatriated his stays.
Spokespeople for the White Home, the CIA and Witkoff did not reply with remark for this text. A Russian embassy spokesman contacted by CBS Information stated there was no official remark, and no acknowledgement of the award has been publicly disclosed by the Kremlin or Russian Overseas Ministry.
Putin’s transfer comes at a delicate time, as Mr. Trump has expressed growing frustration with the Kremlin and has vowed secondary tariffs beginning on Friday, at the same time as negotiations are underway for a attainable summit.
The Order of Lenin is a Soviet-era award meant to spotlight excellent civilian service. It has been given to high-level spies, together with the U.Ok.’s Kim Philby, a double agent for the Soviet Union. Gallina’s son was by no means an worker of the CIA, in keeping with an individual accustomed to the matter.
Putin, a former KGB operative, has met 5 occasions with Witkoff, who left actual property improvement to turn out to be Mr. Trump’s envoy for delicate peace missions. Witkoff’s reliance up to now on Russian authorities translators throughout high-stakes diplomacy has drawn scrutiny.
A supply accustomed to the talks informed CBS Information that Witkoff had a U.S. authorities translator with him for the encounter on Wednesday, two days earlier than Mr. Trump’s deadline for Putin to finish the battle or face extreme monetary penalties by way of sanctions. That very same day, the Trump administration put an extra 25% tariff on Indian items to punish New Delhi for persevering with to buy Russian oil.
Mr. Trump described the Wednesday assembly in Moscow as “extremely productive.” The White Home stated the Russians have been wanting to proceed participating with the US and stated that secondary sanctions have been attributable to be applied on Friday. Nevertheless, as of Friday afternoon, no such sanctions had been issued.
On social media, Gloss printed posts of himself in Moscow and voiced his assist for Russian troops. Russian media first printed information of Gloss’ loss of life in April. The CIA’s assertion on the time stated Gallina and her household had suffered “an unimaginable private tragedy.”
An obituary for Gloss stated he was “tragically killed in Japanese Europe” on April 4, 2024.
Gloss’s father, Larry Gloss, an Iraq Battle veteran, informed the Washington Submit in an interview that he and Gallina didn’t know their son was in Ukraine or that he had enlisted within the Russian military.
“Our greatest concern whereas we have been ready for him to be repatriated was that somebody over there [in Moscow] would put two and two collectively and work out who his mom was, and use him as a prop,” Larry Gloss stated.
