Putin Informs Obama of Desire for Improved Relations and Equal Treatment, Reports Reuters

By Gabriela Baczynska

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin has called for improved relations between Russia and the United States in a message marking Independence Day, asking Washington to treat Moscow as an equal partner.

Currently, ties between the two leaders and their nations are strained due to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as differing views on human rights, democracy, and defense issues.

In a statement detailing a telegram sent to Barack Obama on July 4, the Kremlin expressed Putin’s hope that relations between Russia and the U.S. could develop in a positive direction based on pragmatism and equality, despite existing challenges and disagreements.

Putin emphasized the significant responsibilities both countries share in maintaining international stability and security, suggesting that their cooperation should benefit not only their own nations but the global community as a whole.

This message reflects a key theme of Putin’s third presidential term: asserting that Russia, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, deserves recognition as a global power, particularly two decades after the end of the Soviet Union.

The Kremlin’s statement did not mention the sanctions imposed by the U.S. following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, nor did it address other contentious issues between the two former Cold War rivals. However, the call for "pragmatism and equality" in bilateral relations indicates that Putin is placing the responsibility for improving ties on Obama.

The tone of this year’s telegram was notably less optimistic than last year’s, where Putin expressed confidence that solutions could be found for various issues despite differing perspectives.

Relations have especially worsened since Russia’s annexation of Crimea after the ousting of Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovich, who had sought closer ties with Moscow over a potential trade agreement with the European Union.

Russia has accused the U.S. of supporting protests against Putin prior to his re-election in 2012, while Washington has criticized Moscow for suppressing dissent and violating the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

This week, Putin reiterated allegations that the U.S. is attempting to "contain" Russia, a term reminiscent of Cold War rhetoric. Other Russian officials have taken a firm stance against Western accusations regarding Moscow’s role in the eastern Ukraine conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov referred to U.S. sanctions as a new form of offensive weaponry, while Yevgeny Lukyanov, deputy head of the Russian Security Council, declared that U.S. global dominance is coming to an end.

As efforts to resolve the violence in eastern Ukraine continue, personal relations between Obama and Putin have remained chilly. Putin is currently considering whether to engage more directly with Obama regarding the Ukraine situation or risk additional sanctions that could further stress Russia’s economy, which stands on the brink of recession.