Putin Says Russia Wants Strains in US Relations to Become 'Thing of the Past'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia wants the tensions straining its relationship with the United States to become a thing of the past, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Putin said the issues currently casting a shadow over relations between Moscow and Washington took shape gradually over decades, suggesting the roots of the current friction extend well beyond recent disputes such as the war in Ukraine.

The remarks reflect a conciliatory tone from the Russian leader, even as relations between the two countries remain strained over a range of issues including sanctions, the conflict in Ukraine, and broader disagreements over global security arrangements.

Putin has in recent statements sought to draw a distinction between long-standing structural tensions in the US-Russia relationship and his characterization of his personal rapport with US officials, without detailing specific steps that might be taken to ease the strain.

Washington has not issued an immediate response to Putin's latest remarks. The two countries have engaged in periodic diplomatic contacts even as broader relations have remained difficult.

It remains unclear what concrete actions, if any, might follow from Putin's expressed desire to improve relations, given the range of unresolved disputes between the two governments.