{"id":2578651,"date":"2026-03-11T13:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/group-serves-as-bridge-between-gop-and-russia-friendly-europeans\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:02:27","slug":"group-serves-as-bridge-between-gop-and-russia-friendly-europeans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/group-serves-as-bridge-between-gop-and-russia-friendly-europeans\/","title":{"rendered":"Group serves as bridge between GOP and Russia-friendly Europeans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgroup-serves-as-bridge-between-gop-and-russia-friendly-europeans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2578651&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Washington Examiner investigation examines Republicans for National renewal (RNR), a Texas-based group that for years has positioned itself as a bridge between the American Republican Party and European conservatives with Kremlin-kind or Russia-tolerant leanings. The piece details how RNR has organized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-to-speak-at-cpac-in-dallas-in-july\/\" title=\"Trump to Speak at CPAC in Dallas in July\">high-profile events<\/a>, cultivated meetings with powerful GOP lawmakers, and built extensive overseas networks while keeping a tight lid on disclosures about its funding.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; What the group is and does: RNR was founded in February 2020 with a nationalist-populist agenda inspired by Donald Trump.It has arranged numerous meetings and events that bring U.S. conservatives together with European political figures who have shown affinity for Russia or Moscow-backed positions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Notable activities and relationships: RNR has hosted and facilitated gatherings at prestigious venues (including a Kennedy Center rooftop event) that linked members of Congress with European conservatives such as Romania\u2019s George Simion, Hungary\u2019s Viktor Orban allies, and officials from the Vlaams Belang, AfD, and the Freedom Party of Austria. It has also organized or participated in CPAC Hungary, CPAC Texas, Turning Point USA events, and other conservative conferences.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The fundraising and finances: Tax filings show RNR reported less than $50,000 in revenue in 2020-2023. The group provided some 2024 filings after initial nonresponse and indicated travel costs and events were funded in part by foreign entities or a large donor, though it claims no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-dark-money-kingpin-quietly-awards-grant-to-liberal-group-to-fight-dark-money-in-politics\/\" title=\"Dem Dark Money Kingpin Quietly Awards Grant to Liberal ... To Fight Dark Money in Politics\">direct foreign donations<\/a> to its general fund and that salaries are not paid to officers or board members. The executive director said 2025 brought a larger donation and that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >fundraising consultants helped boost grassroots contributions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Scope of influence: Ivanyo, RNR\u2019s executive director, and other RNR staff have met privately with Republican lawmakers (e.g., Ogles, Hamadeh, Luna, Gill) and engaged with senior figures and party leaders at national and international levels to advance policy ideas aligned with their trans-Atlantic network.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Moscow-aligned positions and cautions: RNR has signaled positions that align with moscow on several issues, such as skepticism toward Ukraine aid and sanctions, while noting that the association itself has no official stance on Russia and that individual members may hold a range of views. the article emphasizes that many European partners in RNR\u2019s network have real or perceived ties to Moscow, though some conservative parties in Europe (like Spain\u2019s Vox or Sweden democrats) may oppose Russia.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Overall implications: The reporting suggests RNR acts as a conduit for linking the American Right with European political figures who have or are accused of having Russia-friendly orientations,raising questions about foreign influence,clarity of funding,and the potential impact on U.S.foreign and defence policy conversations.<\/p>\n<p>In short, the piece portrays RNR as a small, financially modest group that projects outsized influence through international travel, exclusive meetings, and a network of European allies, while drawing scrutiny over funding sources and potential foreign influence on American politics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Foreign-backed group serves as bridge between GOP and Russia-friendly Europeans<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2029095\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash; <\/strong>A little-known yet well-connected group run by a Texas lawyer has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1Fy0f0uw3y-B6FGuZbiVocfSl-imylpRKwVFcfiM5zX8\/edit?usp=sharing\">spent the last four years<\/a> jet-setting around the world to foster connections between the Republican Party and segments of the European Right that harbor pro-Russian sympathies.<\/p>\n<p>Tax documents obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>indicate that, for much of this time, the group, Republicans for National Renewal, reported to the IRS that it had brought in relatively little revenue, raising questions about who paid for its vast travel and event expenses. After being reached by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, the organization&rsquo;s executive director said that, while the group has not directly accepted foreign donations, foreign entities have paid its travel expenses.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4488261\/sherrod-brown-hits-jon-husted-allegedly-not-driving-despite-chauffeur-habit\/\">Sherrod Brown, with taste for luxury chauffeurs, hits Jon Husted for allegedly not driving his own car<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4486743\/officer-take-down-suspect-baltimore-shooting\/\">Officers take down suspect in Baltimore barricade shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4483377\/tennessee-lawmakers-donors-pharmacies-bill-triggering-cvs-closures\/\">Tennessee lawmakers push bill that could make them, and their donors, richer by triggering CVS closures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>RNR was founded in February 2020 with the stated purpose of advancing a platform of &ldquo;nationalism and populism&rdquo; inspired by President Donald Trump. Since then, the organization has succeeded multiple times in uniting people at the very top of the GOP, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and several other members of Congress, with European politicians belonging to parties that, to varying degrees, support Russian interests.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-greenland-shaped-cake-and-a-series-of-meetings\">A Greenland-shaped cake and a series of meetings<\/h2>\n<p>In January, RNR held an event that, in many ways, exemplifies how it operates.<\/p>\n<p>Renting the entire <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theinfatuation.com\/washington-dc\/reviews\/roof-terrace-kennedy-center\">Roof Terrace Restaurant<\/a> at the Kennedy Center, RNR <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/2014407765217705998\/photo\/1\">brought together<\/a> multiple members of Congress and European conservatives with pro-Russia bona fides. At the event, which featured a Greenland-shaped cake, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Andy Ogles (R-TN), and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) rubbed shoulders with the likes of Romanian politician George Simion, who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/dfrlab.org\/2025\/05\/16\/pro-kremlin-networks-shaping-romania-2025-election\/\">critics <\/a>have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/george-simion-romania-presidential-election-profile-ukraine\/\">accused <\/a>of advancing the Kremlin&rsquo;s interests; delegates from his Alliance for the Union of Romanian party; and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/ljubisastamatovic_honored-to-attend-the-one-year-since-the-activity-7419556253644783616-rjUu\/\">at least one member<\/a> of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/world\/lawmakers-in-serbia-elect-new-government-with-pro-russia-ministers-sanctioned-by-u-s\">Russia-friendly<\/a> Serbian government.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump tours the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is just one instance of many wherein RNR managed to get powerful Republicans into the same room as European conservatives with affinities for Russia. Other examples include the group &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1655161402225577984\">facilitating<\/a>&rdquo; Rep. Barry Moore&rsquo;s (R-AL) attendance at CPAC Hungary, an event held with the support of the nation&rsquo;s ruling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c058lny3pdqo\">pro-Moscow<\/a> Fidesz party, and bringing a leader of the Kremlin-friendly Freedom Party of Austria to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1534287103298875397\">speak <\/a>on a panel with Hamadeh at a 2022 conservative conference.<\/p>\n<p>RNR&rsquo;s success in bridging the American and European Right didn&rsquo;t happen overnight. Since its foundation, the group has invested considerable effort into traveling across the Atlantic to build relationships with European conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>In May 2022, RNR <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1526307606347776001\">announced <\/a>that it would be hosting &ldquo;the first ever in-person summit between European national-populist parties and their populist Young Republican counterparts&rdquo; in Budapest. This &ldquo;Trans-Atlantic Patriot Summit&rdquo; included youth representatives from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/italys-league-disavows-accord-with-russias-ruling-party-2024-04-02\/\">Italy&rsquo;s Lega<\/a>, Hungary&rsquo;s Fidesz, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfi.fr\/en\/france\/20240626-has-france-s-far-right-national-rally-really-turned-on-russia\">France&rsquo;s <\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/securingdemocracy.gmfus.org\/incident\/french-far-right-party-national-rally-formerly-front-national-fn-receives-loan-from-bank-with-links-to-the-kremlin\/\">National Rally<\/a>, the Freedom Party of Austria, and Belgium&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.populismstudies.org\/the-impact-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-on-ties-between-the-vlaams-belang-in-belgium-and-the-putin-regime\/\">Vlaams Belang<\/a> &mdash; each of which had reported ties to Moscow at the time.&nbsp;This summit eventually became an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1655249506940665856\">annual event<\/a> held by the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, RNR&rsquo;s U.S.-based staff has traveled across Europe and had dozens of meetings with European politicians belonging to parties aligned with the Kremlin such as Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland, Bulgaria&rsquo;s Vazrazhdane, Czechia&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cepa.org\/article\/czechs-prepare-to-evict-pro-ukraine-government\/\">ANO<\/a>, Turkey&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/russia-eurasia\/research\/2024\/10\/turkiye-and-russia-an-unequal-partnership\">Justice and Development Party<\/a>, France&rsquo;s National Rally, Italy&rsquo;s Lega, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amo.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AMO_Mapinfluence_Setting-on-an-East-Bound-Course_Slovak-Political-Parties-Views-on-China-and-Russia.pdf\">Slovak Republic Movement<\/a>, Georgia&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/neweasterneurope.eu\/2023\/03\/03\/russian-soft-power-in-georgia-peoples-power-and-the-foreign-agent-media-law\/\">People Power<\/a> party, and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.populismstudies.org\/the-russia-ukraine-war-and-right-wing-populism-in-latvia\/\">Latvia First party<\/a>, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1Fy0f0uw3y-B6FGuZbiVocfSl-imylpRKwVFcfiM5zX8\/edit?usp=sharing\">found<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-big-events-and-small-revenues\">Big events and small revenues<\/h2>\n<p>With its high-profile events and considerable international travel, the question naturally arises: How is RNR paying for all this?<\/p>\n<p>At the time of the Kennedy Center event, RNR had only made public its tax returns from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/03\/localimages\/Screenshot-2026-03-10-130012.png\">2020 and 2021<\/a>, both of which indicate that the organization brought in less than $50,000 each year.<\/p>\n<p>RNR initially did not respond when the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out in January to request its most recent tax filings. When the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reached out to the group again in late February, reminding it of its obligation to provide the documents upon request, RNR Executive Director Mark Ivanyo produced the organization&rsquo;s filings for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e-Postcard-View.pdf\">2022 <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e-Postcard-View2.pdf\">2023<\/a>, which reported less than $50,000 in revenue for each of those years.<\/p>\n<p>Ivanyo, however, declined to provide the organization&rsquo;s 2024 filing, stating that it &ldquo;was submitted incorrectly and is being corrected&rdquo; and promising to provide it within a week. While the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>was never provided with a copy of the 2024 filing, Ivanyo stated that his group brought in less than $50,000 that year as well.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its meager reported fundraising between 2020 and 2024, social media posts indicate the group traveled multiple times to Hungary, France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, and Bulgaria during that period &mdash; which, between flights and lodging, likely cost the group considerably.<\/p>\n<p>When asked by the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>whether RNR had ever accepted in-kind support from a foreign entity, Ivanyo answered affirmatively that he has &ldquo;had travel covered for foreign speaking engagements.&rdquo; He denied any foreign contributions to the group&rsquo;s general fund, however.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On top of its rental of the Kennedy Center&rsquo;s exclusive rooftop restaurant, RNR has made a number of other expenditures that appear excessive for a group with only thousands of dollars in reported revenue.<\/p>\n<p>Between 2021 and 2024, for example, the group held annual Christmas parties in Arizona, as well as multiple receptions in Florida and other states, attended by high-profile conservatives, sponsored CPAC Texas, secured a booth at CPAC Dallas, paid for a booth at Turning Point USA&rsquo;s AmericaFest, sponsored an afterparty associated with Steve Bannon&rsquo;s <em>War Room<\/em> podcast, spoke and rented booths at Texas Youth Summits, sponsored a rally followed by a mixer in Michigan, rented a restaurant for an event outside CPAC&rsquo;s national conference, and spoke at the College Republicans of America&rsquo;s convention in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;During 2025, we received a large donation from a conservative New York donor,&rdquo; Ivanyo said, explaining how the group afforded the Kennedy Center event. &ldquo;We have also engaged fundraising consultants, which has led to an increase in grassroots donations, for which we are very grateful. Prior to the large donation, the officers of RNR largely paid for their own travel. Additionally, RNR has not and does not pay salaries to any of its officers or board members. Lastly, most RNR events held around the country generate funds for the organization through ticket sales and therefore pay for themselves and allow us to host booths at major conferences.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ivanyo disclosed that RNR would be filing a traditional Form 990 for its 2025 tax year, indicating that the group had brought in more than $50,000.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-moscow-aligned-positions\">Moscow-aligned positions<\/h2>\n<p>All of RNR&rsquo;s spending seems to have produced results.<\/p>\n<p>RNR has snagged a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1JGs2KjcUlp3Cn7lWo3jzg1K7aCT2coG1ToWwAUMg5ow\/edit?usp=sharing\">number of exclusive meetings<\/a> with Republican lawmakers. These included private audiences in the offices of Ogles, Hamadeh, and Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), as well as less formal discussions with Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Cory Mills (R-FL), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), and Troy Nehls (R-TX). Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Mike Collins (R-GA) and senior Trump administration official Kari Lake, meanwhile, attended private events hosted by RNR. Ogles <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5276367-baby-boom-push-republican-party\/\">joined the group<\/a> for an X space discussing the possibility of a third Trump term.<\/p>\n<p>The meetings and relationships provide RNR an avenue to discuss its policy preferences, including those related to foreign policy, with some of the most powerful people in the country.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">European Parliament members vote on the trans-Atlantic trade deal between South American nations of the Mercosur bloc and the 27-nation European Union on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo\/Pascal Bastien)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While some European conservatives shy away from the pro-Russian moniker, RNR has expressed positions that align with those of Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>Among other points, RNR has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1911542946870296943?s=20\">implied <\/a>on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1835447762101440636?s=20\">multiple occasions<\/a> that Ukraine is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1836915371862827464?s=20\">trying to kill Trump<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1937802639753748884?s=20\">advocated against<\/a> sanctions on Moscow, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1900992259866472512\">celebrated <\/a>Lake&rsquo;s attempt to dismantle Radio Free Europe following its history of critical reporting on the Kremlin, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1890134483204206876?s=20\">demanded <\/a>Russia be allowed back into the G8, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1897016870085197871?s=20\">regularly criticized<\/a> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/search?q=(Russia%20OR%20Ukraine%20OR%20Putin%20OR%20Zelensky)%20(from%3ARNRenewal%20OR%20from%3AMarkIvanyo)&amp;src=typed_query\">claimed <\/a>that Ukraine is funding anti-Trump protests, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkIvanyo\/status\/1677024799673970689?s=20\">accused <\/a>Ukraine of faking civilian deaths, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1781759040265105640?s=20\">consistently <\/a>come out against providing aid to Ukraine, and called on the United States to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/rnrenewal.org\/un-and-nato-resolution\/\">leave NATO<\/a> &mdash; a move that critics say would leave Eastern Europe to the whims of the Russians.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;RNR takes no official stance on relations with Russia, but individual members have their own personal views,&rdquo; Ivanyo told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;As an America First organization, we are against major foreign powers, including but not limited to Arab states, Russia, or China, buying up strategic infrastructure in the United States. During trips to Europe and Latin America, we met with politicians who are supportive of President Trump. As you noted, their views on Russia can vary.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Some of the European conservatives with whom RNR has made inroads explicitly oppose Russia. Spain&rsquo;s Vox and the Sweden Democrats, both of whom RNR have expressed support for and met with, fall into this camp.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the bulk of the European politicians RNR has sought to befriend belong to parties with at least some affinity for Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>Though conservatives in the U.S. have largely grown numb to criticism of their stances on Russia, many of the parties RNR seeks to connect the GOP with are relatively open about their alignment with the Kremlin.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2023, for instance, RNR <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1725698539336986904\">met <\/a>with the leader of Bulgaria&rsquo;s Vazrazhdane party to discuss &ldquo;peace in Ukraine&rdquo; while visiting the country&rsquo;s capital. Shortly thereafter, RNR and Vazrazhdane released a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNRenewal\/status\/1726637683496337563\">joint statement<\/a> expressing their ideological alignment.<\/p>\n<p>Vazrazhdane&rsquo;s ties to Moscow are strong, with the party having <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.authlib.eu\/bulgaria-revival-united-russia-links\/\">signed <\/a>a cooperation pact with Russian President Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s United Russia in 2025.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo\/Pavel Bednyakov)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Vazrazhdane advocates Bulgaria&rsquo;s exit from NATO and the European Union to facilitate a return to Russia&rsquo;s sphere of influence. Kostadin Kostadinov, whom RNR met with, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.svobodnaevropa.bg\/a\/31734048.html\">spoke <\/a>at a demonstration in March 2022 where Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov was pelted with snowballs as anti-Western protesters waved Russian flags and chanted pro-Russian slogans.<\/p>\n<p>RNR has also met with several politicians affiliated with Alternative for Germany, an ascendant right-wing party that has seen increasingly strong showings in recent elections. AfD <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-best-friends-in-germany-afd-and-bsw\/a-70072663\">broadly supports<\/a> closer ties between Russia and Germany while opposing support for Ukraine and expressing skepticism toward alignment with the West. Germany&rsquo;s domestic security service has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zeit.de\/politik\/deutschland\/2023-05\/thomas-haldenwang-afd-russische-propaganda\">accused <\/a>AfD of spreading Russian narratives, and scores of reports from news agencies have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2023\/04\/21\/germany-russia-interference-afd-wagenknecht\/\">alleged <\/a>ties between members of the party and Russian operatives.<\/p>\n<p>The Freedom Party of Austria, one of the parties RNR met with most frequently, has historically been open about its alignment with Russia. In 2016, the party signed a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rferl.org\/a\/russia-austria-freedom-party-pact-putins-party\/28185013.html\">cooperation pact<\/a> with Russia&rsquo;s ruling party. Since then, the party has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/far-right-freedom-party-wins-austrian-elections-cementing-further-cementing-russia-friendly-wall-in-central-europe\/\">opposed <\/a>sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-regular-presence-at-conservative-conferences\">A regular presence at conservative conferences<\/h2>\n<p>Perhaps the most important party in the nexus surrounding RNR is Hungary&rsquo;s Fidesz. The party and its leader, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have been major players in efforts to forge alliances between American and European conservatives. It may be no surprise that RNR has been a consistent presence at CPAC Hungary, a hub for this movement.<\/p>\n<p>Fidesz also has a distinct, pro-Russian slant.<\/p>\n<p>Under the party&rsquo;s leadership, Hungary was the only EU member state to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2018\/09\/hungary-relationship-russia-send-message-eu-180919131248490.html\">vote against<\/a> aid for Ukraine as it faced Russian-backed rebels in 2019 and has since worked to derail efforts aimed at admitting Kyiv to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/hungarian-parliament-passes-resolution-against-ukraines-eu-bid\/\">EU <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/02\/24\/european-funding-ukraine-delayed-orban\/\">NATO<\/a>. While the country denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has opposed military aid to Ukraine and criticized sanctions against Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>Orban and Putin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c058lny3pdqo\">have <\/a>a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/vladimir-putin-and-viktor-orbans-special-relationship\/a-45512712\">long-running, friendly relationship<\/a>, with the former often praising the latter. Last week, Putin released two Hungarian prisoners of war ahead of key elections, an overture that was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-04\/putin-gives-orban-s-campaign-a-helping-hand-with-pow-release\">seen<\/a> as an effort to help Fidesz&rsquo;s shaky electoral prospects.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on May 13, 2017.  (Jason Lee &ndash; Pool\/Getty Image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>RNR shows no signs of slowing down its efforts to forge trans-Atlantic conservative alliances.<\/p>\n<p>Ivanyo, the group&rsquo;s director, met Orban in April 2024, marking at least the second time the two had spoken. That year, Ivanyo traveled extensively, meeting right-wing, and at times Russian-friendly, conservatives from France, Germany, Latvia, Hungary, Czechia, Greece, and Romania. The following year, his organization met with conservatives in Serbia, Moldova, Spain, Turkey, and Georgia. Ivanyo presented a replica gun as a gift to Simion in 2024, highlighting the close relationship the group shares with the Romanian, whom the Institute for the Study of War <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/understandingwar.org\/research\/russia-ukraine\/far-right-gains-in-romania-could-advance-kremlin-objectives\/\">says <\/a>&ldquo;could advance the Kremlin&rsquo;s objectives.&rdquo;&rsquo;<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the group has become a regular presence at conservative conferences, such as those organized by CPAC and Turning Point USA, highlighting its efforts to gain import within the American Right.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Johnson <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/02\/26\/mike-johnson-turning-point-event-00801762\">delivered remarks<\/a> at an event co-sponsored by RNR dubbed the &ldquo;Alliance of Sovereign Nations&rdquo; summit. The House speaker was joined by Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Randy Fine (R-FL), and Luna. Many of the conference&rsquo;s European attendees are from parties that RNR has spent the past four years cultivating relationships with. Among them were AfD, the Freedom Party of Austria, Vlaams Belang, and Simion&rsquo;s AUR.<\/p>\n<p>Ivanyo also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkIvanyo\/status\/2031037019254673907?s=20\">spoke<\/a> at the conference, referring to Luna as a &ldquo;good friend.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3844530\/feds-idle-chinese-money-seeps-into-american-politics\/\"><strong>CHINESE MONEY SEEPS INTO EVERY LEVEL OF AMERICAN POLITICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>AfD deputy Markus Frohnmaier was one of the advertised headliners of the event. The Russian government once endeavored to support Frohnmaier, predicting that he would be under its &ldquo;absolute control&rdquo; if elected to the German legislature in 2017, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spiegel.de\/politik\/ausland\/markus-frohnmaier-russen-setzten-auf-afd-abgeordneten-a-1261422.html\">according<\/a> to leaked documents reported on by four European news agencies.<\/p>\n<p>The offices of Johnson, Hamadeh, Luna, Ogles, and Moore did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nRepublicans for National Renewal (RNR), a small but well-connected group led by a Texas lawyer, has spent four years traveling internationally to connect the GOP with European right-wing parties that show pro-Russia leanings. IRS filings indicate the group reported very little income from 2020-2023, raising questions about how it financed its extensive travel and events; the executive director says foreign entities covered travel even though the group did not take foreign donations for its general fund. Since its 2020 founding to promote nationalism and populism, RNR has brought top Republicans together with Kremlin-friendly European conservatives at high-profile events, including a Kennedy Center gathering with lawmakers like Anna Paulina Luna, Andy Ogles, and Abe Hamadeh alongside figures such as George Simion. The group has also facilitated participation in CPAC Hungary and hosted leaders from the Kremlin-aligned Freedom Party of Austria, among other meetings with parties such as AfD, Vazrazhdane, ANO, and Fidesz. RNR claims no official stance on Russia, though some members\u2019 views align with Moscow on issues like Ukraine, NATO, and sanctions; critics note that many European partners have Kremlin ties. The organization says it funds itself through a mix of donations and fundraising consultants, with some large contributions reported in 2025, and emphasizes that officers do not pay salaries. Questions remain about the true funding sources behind its extensive travel.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\nForeign-backed group links GOP to Russia-leaning Europe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":894,"featured_media":2578652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AP25138669912100.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3817,8447,6203,4280,75571],"class_list":["post-2578651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-diplomacy","tag-europe","tag-gop","tag-russia","tag-transatlantic"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AP25138669912100.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/894"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578651"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578655,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578651\/revisions\/2578655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}