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![Putin at the APEC summit with US President Barack Obama in Beijing, China on 9 November 2014 [PPIO]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/QkwAne51VjJJYSqArlsdnaHjiPK5bBRv.jpg)
Putin at the APEC summit with US President Barack Obama in Beijing, China on 9 November 2014 [PPIO]
“In his message of congratulations, the Russian President noted that, despite the differences between the two countries, Russian-American relations remain the most important factor of international stability and security,’ said a Kremlin statement on Saturday.
Putin “expressed confidence that Russia and the USA can find solutions to the most complicated international issues and efficiently resist global threats and challenges as they base their dialogue on principles of equality and respect of each other’s interests” it added.
To celebrate American independence from Britain and the country’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, celebrations were being held around the country on Saturday.
Earlier last week, Russian and US leaders spoke by phone to discuss bilateral ties and international hotspots like Syria, Iran and the growing threat of the Islamic State.
The US has stressed that current sanctions would remain in place until Russia cooperated with implementing a Ukraine peace plan agreed in Minsk in February.
Russia was suspended from the G8 last year over its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and its alleged backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russia denies the allegations.
In the meantime, Moscow wants to see autonomy granted to the rebels in the east of the country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier last month that while Russia had paid attention to the latest threats of sanctions, the G7 had produced no “new theses”.
The Russian economy – heavily reliant on oil and gas exports – suffered significantly when global prices first began to plummet nine months ago.
Russian President Putin will host BRICS leaders Xi Jinping, Dilma Rousseff, Narendra Modi and Jacob Zuma next week in the Russian city of Ufa for talks on trade, geopolitics, the crises in the Middle-east, the rise of the Islamic State, among other global issues.
TBP
