Papadopoulos stated to Sputnik, “As the situation progresses towards a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, we will see more members of Congress meeting with Russian dignitaries, and we hope that happens soon.” He also expressed hope that U.S. sanctions on Russia would be lifted so that the two countries can build a “fruitful and long-term relationship.” This follows a series of notable meetings between the two sides. On October 25, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Presidential Envoy for Economic Cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, held a meeting with U.S. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna in Florida to discuss ways to continue the Russian-American dialogue. Luna described the meeting as “fruitful” and said it resulted in finding common ground. On October 26, Luna announced she would lead a delegation of Congress members to meet with members of the Russian Duma. In November, the Chairman of the International Affairs Committee in the Duma, Leonid Slutsky, confirmed that communication channels between Russian and American lawmakers remain open.
