Russian President Vladimir Putin has said relations between Moscow and Washington remain the most important factor in ensuring stability and security in the world.
In a congratulatory message to U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday on the U.S. Independence Day, Putin said that despite the differences, Russia and the U.S. could find solutions for the most difficult international problems and meet the global challenges together, if they engage in a dialogue based on equality and respect for each other’s interests.
Putin has also offered cooperation to the Obama administration to fight the threat of terrorism from the Islamic State group.
According to the Kremlin, Putin has tasked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss a joint anti-terrorism strategy with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
U.S.-Russian relations have reached the lowest point since the post-Cold War era because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Russia has been increasingly antagonistic in its remarks toward the United States ever since claiming that Western sanctions against Moscow are the result of U.S. pressure on EU countries.
The West has leveled accusations against Russia for supporting the insurgency in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has denied, saying that Russians fighting alongside separatists in the Donbas region are volunteers.
Some material for this report comes from AFP and Reuters.
