Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year's message to U.S. President Barack Obama saying that the two countries should move forward with equality in bilateral relations next year.
Putin noted the upcoming 70th anniversary of the allied World War II victory in which the U.S. and Moscow fought together against Hitler, saying that it should serve as a reminder of the "responsibility Russia and the United States bear for maintaining world peace and stability and their special role in resisting global challenges and threats."
A U.S.-Russian partnership is possible and should be pursued as long as both countries can move forward with "principles of equality and mutual respect," the statement continued.
The statement reads: "In his message to US President Barack Obama the Russian head of state pointed out that next year both countries will mark the 70th anniversary of a victory for which they had fought shoulder to shoulder as anti-Hitler coalition allies. The Russian president said that historical date is a reminder of the responsibility Russia and the United States bear for maintaining world peace and stability and their special role in resisting global challenges and threats."
Several dozen New Year's messages were published by the Kremlin on Wednesday, each addressed to various heads of states and international organizations, such as the Olympic Committee and FIFA. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, however, was not included on the list of recipients, noted The Associated Press.
