On the anniversary of the United States' independence, Russia President Vladimir Putin sent President Barack Obama a telegram giving the president his best wishes on the historical day and his wishes for the two countries to reconcile.

The relationship between the Russia and the U.S. has been a tense one for many years and deteriorated faster since Russia's annexation of Crimea after the overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russia president. The subsequent tensions in eastern Ukraine, with provinces breaking away, declaring themselves autonomous or asking to join Russia, have increased Ukraine's instability and worsened tensions between the West and Russia.

In his telegram, Putin wished for the two nations to improve their relations despite the tense current situation

"The head of the Russian state expressed hope that ... ties between the two countries will develop successfully on the basis of pragmatism and equality despite difficulties and disagreements," the Kremlin said in a statement, outlining a telegram sent to Obama on the July Fourth holiday, according to Reuters.

"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," the statement continued.

Putin continues to argue that Russia stands at the same footing as the U.S., but the U.S. has been trying to contain Russia as if it were the height of the Cold War. Both sides has accused the other of interfering in each others' affairs; however, the U.S. sanctions against Russia prove a much more powerful means to deter Russia's bellicose actions.

Other countries, nonetheless, continue to pressure Russia into acting, since the sanctions have not improved the situation in Ukraine and simply soured even more Russia's relationship with the U.S. According to Bloomberg, both Germany and France have put pressure on Moscow to do more where it concerns the rebel fighters in Ukraine. They want Russia to help Ukraine and the rebels reach a truce, especially after the ceasefire and negotiations ended with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko calling for the rebels to surrender or face military retaliation.

"Above all, Russia must play its part and exercise its influence over the separatists in the east of Ukraine so that these groups also observe a cease-fire," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

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