海角大神

On Independence Day, Putin extends olive branch to Obama and US

Putin's message comes after the Obama administration proposed the two countries fight Al Qaeda's branch in Syria. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to President Obama on Independence Day, Monday: let鈥檚 make up for the sake of our countries and the world.

鈥淭he history of Russian-American relations shows that when we act as equal partners and respect each other鈥檚 lawful interests, we are able to successfully resolve the most complex international ,鈥� said Mr. Putin. 鈥淭he positive experience of the past would help to set the dialogue between Russia and the United States back on a constructive track thus enabling both countries to counter more effectively the threats and challenges facing the international community today.

Putin鈥檚 statement follows Mr. Obama's attempt to mend the countries鈥� frayed relationship by proposing a new military partnership in Syria. However, other foreign policy sticking points could prevent the two leaders from truly moving on.聽

A week before Putin鈥檚 message was published on the official website of the Kremlin, Obama proposed the two countries 聽to fight Jabhat al-Nusra, Al Qaeda鈥檚 branch in Syria, which has primarily fought the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, reported The Washington Post. In partnering, Russia would also agree to pressure Mr. Assad not to bomb US-backed rebels, proposed Obama. The American and Russian militaries 鈥渨ould cooperate at an unprecedented level, something the Russians have sought for a long time,鈥� wrote the Post鈥檚 Josh Rogin. The Kremlin to Obama鈥檚 proposal, according to Russia Today.

Obama and Putin鈥檚 pitches to each other are, in a way, their attempts to cool tensions over Ukraine, Syria, as well as the US and NATO鈥檚 military presence in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. The conflicts in Ukraine and Syria 鈥渉ave contributed to heated tensions between the US and Russia and revived cold war antagonism,鈥� wrote 海角大神鈥檚 Fred Weir in February.

The Kremlin, in particular, believes 鈥渢hat NATO has surrounded Russia with a ring of hostile military bases, that US support for Ukraine鈥檚 Maidan revolution was intended to tear a historic ally out of Moscow鈥檚 orbit, and that Washington has been supporting terrorism by backing rebel forces in Syria,鈥� writes Mr. Weir. The US, meanwhile, has condemned Russia鈥檚 intrusion in Ukraine, and support of Assad.

An American-built, anti-ballistic missile system NATO opened in Romania in May . Washington said the system, the Aegis Ashore, is to protect only against聽 鈥渞ogue鈥� states, particularly Iran, and not Russia, according to The New York Times. Russia said the system can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles, which it said violates a 1987 treaty meant to diffuse the countries鈥� nuclear alerts. The US denied having any Tomahawk Land Attack Missile聽at the site in Romania. Meanwhile, the countries鈥� militaries have jostled each other in the sea and in the air.

They have accused each other of in international waters and airspace. In the latest cold-war style incident, the Russian Defense Ministry said a US destroyer approached a Russian warship, which Russia said was a flagrant violation of rules to avoid collisions at sea. A US Defense official told Reuters the Russian warship carried out "unsafe and unprofessional" operations near two US Navy ships.

The Post鈥檚 Mr. Rogin reported in June Russian harassment and intimidation of US diplomats is at an .

The Obama administration on Putin鈥檚 message Monday, CNN reported.