(VOVworld)-President Vladimir Putin has called for an improvement in relations between Russia and the United States in an Independence Day message to Barack Obama, urging Washington to treat Moscow as an equal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

President Putin expressed his hope that ties between the two countries will develop successfully on the basis of pragmatism and equality despite difficulties and disagreements. Vladimir Putin also highlighted that Russia and the United States, as countries carrying exceptional responsibility for safeguarding international stability and security, should cooperate not only in the interests of their own nations but also the whole world.