"We are competitors but don't necessarily need to be adversaries," @SenShelby tells Lavrov as he leads all-Republican congressional delegation to Moscow. 
Meeting with Lavrov in Moscow, from left to right: @JerryMoran, @SenJohnHoeven, @RepKayGranger, @JonHuntsman, @SenShelby, @SenJohnThune, @SteveDaines, @SenJohnKennedy, @SenRonJohnson. No Dems, no coastal states (unless you count TX, AL, LA).
Lavrov wryly praises US for “very generously” deciding to share 2026 World Cup with Canada, Mexico.
Kremlin: Unfortunately Putin won't have time to meet guests from Congress, but we're very happy they're here and contacts with US are intensifying. tass.ru/politika/53428…
Former ambassador Sergei Kislyak will be among Russian lawmakers welcoming US senators to Federation Council in Moscow.
In Federation Council in Moscow, @SenJohnKennedy says: "Our discussions have been brutally frank, no holds barred, as candid as I have ever been in."
"I ask our friends in Russia not to interfere in our election this year," says @SenJohnKennedy. "I ask them to exit Ukraine, help bring peace to Syria, not allow Iran to gain foothold in Syria."
In Moscow, @SenJohnKennedy says: "This is the beginning of a dialogue, you have to watch what people do, not what they say. So we'll see."
"We'll see" is the new "Sad."
In Federation Council in Moscow, @SenShelby says: "I believe Russia, US, world will be a lot better off if we improve relationship. Perhaps it won't be utopia; most marriages aren't utopia. But an improvement, gosh, I hope so."
.@SenShelby tells Russian lawmakers he wants to have "conversation about economy," especially small and medium-sized businesses in Russia. (Really??)
I ask @SenShelby why the congressional delegation to Russia isn't bipartisan. His answer: "Some days we don't travel bipartisan."
Russian senator Andrei Klimov tells me US lawmakers didn't bring up Crimea during Moscow meeting: "I didn't hear the word 'Crimea' once in 2 hours."
Reluctance of US lawmakers to talk with press in Moscow is bizarre. They practically sprinted out of Federation Council, Russian senators were much chattier.
Amazing. Obama deliberated, Hillary gave Lavrov a plastic button, they called it "the reset." Trump is quietly resetting relations without any gimmicks or labels.
None of the 8 US lawmakers visiting Moscow has tweeted that they've been in Russia since the weekend. Not really a secret, plus it's official business.
At US ambassador's July 4th party, visiting senators loosen up and talk to me. Stay tuned to @NPR.
