In a surprising turn of events, President Vladimir Putin recently presented Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for former President Donald Trump, with the Order of Lenin. This Soviet-era accolade is intended for Juliane Gallina, the senior CIA official whose son, Michael Gloss, was killed while fighting in Ukraine. The award was reportedly passed during Witkoff's visit to Moscow, where discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine were held. Gloss's tragic death, which came last year, only recently came to light through Russian media.
Michael Gloss, aged 21, was not affiliated with the CIA but had personal ties to the agency, being the son of Gallina, its deputy director for digital innovation. Gloss enlisted with Russian forces in late 2023, expressing pro-Russian sentiments on social media just before his demise. His family has revealed ongoing struggles with mental health, further complicating the narrative surrounding his death, which has raised concerns regarding its exploitation for political purposes in Russia. Despite calls for clarity, neither the Kremlin, the CIA, nor Witkoff have responded to inquiries regarding the honor's presentation or Gloss's service.
Discussions around Gloss's history and the circumstances of his death have ignited debates over personal tragedy versus propaganda, particularly amid an upcoming US-Russia summit in Alaska to tackle the war in Ukraine. As diplomatic relations grow ever more complex, this incident signals both an acknowledgment of individual loss and the potential use of tragic events in international diplomacy.
Michael Gloss, aged 21, was not affiliated with the CIA but had personal ties to the agency, being the son of Gallina, its deputy director for digital innovation. Gloss enlisted with Russian forces in late 2023, expressing pro-Russian sentiments on social media just before his demise. His family has revealed ongoing struggles with mental health, further complicating the narrative surrounding his death, which has raised concerns regarding its exploitation for political purposes in Russia. Despite calls for clarity, neither the Kremlin, the CIA, nor Witkoff have responded to inquiries regarding the honor's presentation or Gloss's service.
Discussions around Gloss's history and the circumstances of his death have ignited debates over personal tragedy versus propaganda, particularly amid an upcoming US-Russia summit in Alaska to tackle the war in Ukraine. As diplomatic relations grow ever more complex, this incident signals both an acknowledgment of individual loss and the potential use of tragic events in international diplomacy.
