Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Rand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts MORE (R-Ky.) met on Tuesday with former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev as part of his weeklong trip to Russia.

Paul praised Gorbachev after the meeting, saying he understood the "critical necessity of engagement" between the United States and Russia.

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“President Gorbachev was instrumental in bringing down the Iron Curtain and restoring ties with the West. ... Our conversation further encouraged me that open dialogue between our two nations does not have to be a thing of the past," Paul said in a statement.

He added that while he discussed "various items" with Gorbachev, who was the final leader of the Soviet Union, the "importance of nuclear disarmament was greatly discussed."

Paul also met with Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Relations, and invited Russian lawmakers to Washington, D.C.

His trip to Moscow comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are becoming increasingly concerned that the Kremlin will try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections.

Sen. Claire McCaskill Claire Conner McCaskillMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Democratic-linked group runs ads in Kansas GOP Senate primary Trump mocked for low attendance at rally MORE (Mo.), one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents, said late last month that Russian intelligence agents had targeted her staff with an attempted breach ahead of the November midterms.

Senators are mulling legislation to slap new sanctions on Russia, though some Republicans are skeptical they would be enough to prevent election meddling.

Paul, who voted against sanctions legislation last year, has emerged as one of President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE's chief allies in the Senate on Russia.

He blocked a resolution from Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) that would have supported the intelligence community's findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election and required Trump to sit down with special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE.

"We should stand firm and say, 'Stay the hell out of our elections,' but we should not stick our head in the ground and say we're not going to talk to them," Paul said from the Senate floor.