Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) met with Russia lawmakers Monday in Moscow, forging an agreement that will bring his Russian counterparts to Washington for an official visit. | Alex Wong/Getty Images After Rand Paul meeting, Russian lawmakers agree to Washington visit

Sen. Rand Paul, who has supported President Donald Trump's effort to improve relations with Russia, announced Monday that Russian lawmakers have agreed to visit the U.S. Capitol.

"Engagement is vital to our national security and peace around the world," Paul (R-Ky.) said in a statement. He is currently in Moscow meeting with Russian officials, in addition to visiting the U.S. embassy in the city.


Paul said he met with Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Russia Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs. The council is Russia's equivalent of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which Paul serves as a member.

During his discussion with Kosachev, Paul said the two "agreed on the importance of continued dialogue." He said he invited the Russian Federation to send a delegation to the capitol, and that Kosachev "agreed to take this important next step."

A date for the possible visit was not announced. It would be the first time in almost three years that an official Russian delegation has visited the U.S. Capitol.

The Kentucky senator's visit comes weeks after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July.

The meeting between the two leaders, which was held in Helsinki, Finland, created waves on both sides of the aisle as lawmakers criticized Trump for not endorsing the U.S. intelligence community's assessment of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and for placing blame for chilly relationship between the two nations on both parties, instead of solely on the Kremlin.

Paul has praised Trump's meeting with Putin, and has also downplayed Moscow's interference in U.S. elections, claiming that all countries meddle in foreign elections.

This article tagged under: Russia

Rand Paul