Putin Awards Honor Amid U.S.-Russia Tensions
Washington — Russian President Vladimir Putin presented an award to President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, intended for a senior CIA official whose son died in Ukraine while fighting for Russian forces, according to informed sources.
The award, known as the Order of Lenin, was meant for Juliane Gallina, whose 21-year-old son, Michael Gloss, was killed in 2024. Gallina serves as the CIA’s deputy director for digital innovation, but the current fate of the award remains unclear.
Multiple sources indicated that Putin bestowed the award to Witkoff during his recent trip to Russia, which U.S. officials initiated to discuss potential resolutions to the Ukraine conflict.
This gesture, typical of Putin’s strategy to exploit adversaries’ vulnerabilities, likely aimed to create discomfort and spotlight that a CIA official’s son fought on the side of Russia during the war.
CIA officials stated in April that Gloss’s death, which was linked to his mental health struggles, did not pose a national security concern. According to insiders, there’s no evidence suggesting he was recruited by Russia, and it appears the Kremlin was unaware of his familial ties when they repatriated his remains.
Officials from the White House, CIA, and Witkoff did not provide comments regarding this situation. A spokesperson for the Russian embassy referred CBS News to official channels, where no acknowledgment of the award has been made publicly.
Putin’s actions occur during a sensitive period, as Trump has expressed rising dissatisfaction with the Kremlin and is set to impose secondary tariffs, despite ongoing discussions for a potential summit.
