Republican lawmakers come to Moscow, raising hopes there U.S.-Russia thaw

MOSCOW – Republican members of the Congress of President of the Russian Federation and President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) Told Russia's foreign ministry that while Russia and the United States were competitors, "we do not necessarily need to be adversaries." Later on at the Duma State, the lower house of parliament, members attending plenary session greeted the Americans with applause

"Shelby told Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. "I'm saying that we should all strive for a better relationship."

The Republicans' Meetings in Moscow – coming after the lawmakers visited St. Petersburg and took in the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" July 16 Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki. They 've been hoping for the Americans' newfound willingness to meet marked back to lawmakers in Washington and Moscow.

Lawmakers on both sides of the street. in which they continue to disagree, but that they are committed to a renewed dialogue.

The U.S. delegation, Russian lawmakers said, represented the most significant congressional visit to Russia after a decade in which such visits were few and low-key. For more than a year, Russian officials have been voiced frustration that the improvement in U.S.-Russias that the Trump promised in his presidential campaign had yet to materialize. With this week's congressal trip, John Bolton, and the upcoming Helsinki summit, Russians now hope that change is finally near.

Members of a US Congressional Delegation (left) meet with members of the Russian Federation Council in Moscow. (Yuri Kadobnov / AFP / Getty Images)

Among the Russians meeting with the Republicans Tuesday was Sergei Kislyak – the former Russian ambassador to Washington whose communications with Michael Flynn led to the national security adviser 's downfall. Kislyak, now a member of the upper house of parliament, noted in an interview after the meeting that many of the Republicans sitting across the table were already known to him from Washington.

"Kislyak said," The main thing about this is that our guests traveled here in order to talk, "Kislyak said. "This is probably a good start to a dialogue."

Participants offered conflicting accounts of the degree to which they aired U.S.-Russian disagreements. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Described the meetings as "damn frank, very very very frank, no holds barred."

"Kennedy said," I asked our friends in Russia not to interfere in our elections this year. Ukraine to allow Ukraine to self-determined. I asked for the same thing in Crimea. I asked for their help in bringing peace to Syria. And I asked them not to allow Iran to gain a foothold in Syria. "

Duma member Vyacheslav Nikonov, on the other hand, said he had met with many American lawmakers in years past and this meeting was one of the easiest The question of election interference, he said, was resolved quickly because "the question was raised in a general form."

"One should not interfere in elections – well, we do not interfere, "Nikonov said.

U.S. They have stated that they believe that they are in favor of the 2016 presidential election.

The American lawmakers discussed the future of the Russian Federation Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his ministry said. At the meeting at the Federation Council – Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachev Raised Russia's grievances about new American sanctions and the U.S. seizure of Russian diplomatic properties. While some members of the U.S. delegation speculated before the trip that they might see Putin himself, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the president had no time for the visitors.

"We are delighted by the fact that this visit is taking place in Moscow now," Peskov said.

In December, two Republicans canceled a trip to Russia after Moscow Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH), an outspoken critic of Russia.This time, only Republicans were in attendance, Sen. John Thune (RS.D.), the third-highest-ranking Republican in the Senate