Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has delivered a loaded Independence Day message to his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The close ally of President Vladimir Putin urged the American people “to follow the path of peace and prosperity, as they continue to uphold the enduring principles enshrined in the US Declaration of Independence ensuring every individual’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Lavrov said he wanted to further improve relations between Russia and the U.S. in the message reported by the TASS Russian state news agency. His comments come as Russia intensifies its military action in Ukraine, a war Trump is trying to end.
“I look forward to our collaborative efforts further enhancing bilateral relations in a constructive direction, fostering stability and predictability rooted in mutual respect and consideration for each other’s national interests shaped by history, geography, and realities on the ground,” he said.
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Lavrov added: “Please convey our sincere congratulations to the American people on the occasion of the US national holiday—Independence Day. The Russian Federation extends its support for America’s pursuit of unity and the realization of the American dream.”
Putin Congratulates Trump on Independence Day
Vladimir Putin also congratulated Donald Trump on American independence during their call on Thursday—and emphasized Russia’s role in the establishment of the United States.
Yury Ushakov, the Russian presidential aide, said that, during the call, Putin had spoken of the deep historical roots between the two countries, according to a report by TASS.
“Of course, he congratulated Trump on the national holiday of the United States, Independence Day, celebrated tomorrow,” Ushakov said.
“It was noted from our side that Russia played an important role in the formation of American statehood, including during the War of Independence 250 years ago, and then during the Civil War, which ended 160 years ago.
“It was stated that our countries are linked not only by the alliance in the First and Second World Wars, but also by deeper historical roots.”
Trump Reveals Details of Vladimir Putin Call
Trump spoke to reporters about his call with Putin before he boarded Air Force One on Thursday for an “America 250” rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. “We had a call, it was a pretty long call, we talked about a lot of things, including Iran. We also talked about the war with Ukraine,” he said.
Trump shook his head and said, “I’m not happy about that,” when asked about the Ukraine war.
“No, I didn’t make any progress with him today,” he said in response to a question about a potential deal with Putin to end the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Trump: US Will Continue to Support Ukraine
Trump also criticized the Biden administration for supplying too many weapons to Ukraine, marking his first comments on the pause in certain shipments as Russia intensifies its offensive.
Trump claimed Biden “emptied out our whole country” of weapons, stressing the need to prioritize U.S. security. Despite withholding air defense missiles and precision artillery, Trump clarified that America would continue supporting Ukraine as Russia steps up its offensive.
“We’ve given so many weapons,” he said, adding that “we are working with them and trying to help them.”
