At least four Republican Senators are heading to Russia next week, a trip happening at the same time National Security Advisor John Bolton is scheduled to travel to Moscow, Energy Secretary Rick Perry is welcoming Russia's energy minister to the U.S., and President Trump is discussing meeting with Vladimir Putin in July.
CNN:
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby told CNN that they will travel as part of a congressional delegation trip to Russia next week at the invitation of United States Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman.
Kennedy told CNN that in addition to him and Shelby, Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota were part of the confirmed group.
The Moscow Times reports the Republican Senators will be in Moscow on July 3rd and 4th.
The lawmakers are expected to meet State Duma and Federation Council representatives in Moscow on July 3 and July 4, an Independence Day holiday in the U.S., Interfax cited a parliamentary source as saying this week.
The U.S. president’s assistant for national security, John Bolton, is also scheduled to land in Moscow next Wednesday to discuss a “potential meeting” between Trump and Putin. The Kremlin said it was aware of Bolton’s visit, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told state-run RIA Novosti that he “of course” plans to meet the adviser.
Senator Kennedy, meanwhile, is hoping for a chance to speak with Putin.
"I hope we're going to get to meet with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," he told CNN. "I want to be able to meet with government officials, try to establish some rapport, talk about common interest, talk about common problem."
Kennedy said he's also interested in seeing the state of the Russian economy with his own eyes.
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When asked if he would broach the topic of Russian interference in the American election system -- a subject of several congressional investigations as well as special counsel -- Kennedy said he does intend to address the subject with Russian officials.
"Now, I don't want to do anything to start an international incident but I believe in talking frankly about these things," Kennedy said.
He said that there have been a lot of "serious allegations that Russia has interfered with not just our elections" citing Macron's bid in France, Brexit and Merkel.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry is hosting Russian Oil Minister Alexander Novak in DC Tuesday.
WSJ:
It isn’t clear what the administration’s goals are for a meeting with ... Novak, but he will meet Mr. Perry at a time when Mr. Trump and several members of his team have been prodding other oil-producing countries to pump more. Russia and world’s other top producer, Saudi Arabia, have already begun pulling back from a deal to cut output that has sent oil prices to 3 ½-year highs and raised retail gasoline prices in the U.S. just ahead of national midterm elections.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, three days after the end of the current Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting in Vienna and on the first day of the World Gas Conference taking place in Washington. The U.S. is also an increasing exporter of natural gas, competing with Russia in a global market where both have tried to use their exports as a way to influence or help political allies.
US senators to Russia next week for congressional delegation (CNN)
Ahead of Rumored Trump-Putin Summit, Flurry of U.S. Officials Visit Russia (The Moscow Times)
U.S., Russian Top Energy Officials to Meet Next Week (WSJ) *Note: Wall Street Journal articles are behind a paywall