Putin awards Order of Lenin for CIA official’s son
Putin has bestowed a Soviet-era Order of Lenin on Michael Gloss, son of CIA deputy director Juliane Gallina, through Donald Trump's special envoy.
President Vladimir Putin presented the Order of Lenin to Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, during a meeting in Moscow. The award is to be delivered to Juliane Gallina, the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation, whose son Michael Gloss was killed fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Michael Gloss's background
Gloss, 21, enlisted with Russian forces in autumn 2023. He died on 4 April 2024 in Eastern Europe. Reports indicate the Kremlin was unaware of his family ties when he joined the conflict.
CIA response and wider implications
The CIA stated Gloss struggled with mental health issues and confirmed his death was not a national security matter. He never worked for the agency.
Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska next week to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.
Putin's gesture highlights the personal complexities behind diplomatic ties as Russia and the US prepare for high-stakes discussions on the Ukraine conflict.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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