Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on US Independence Day, which was celebrated on July 4, reports TASS.

"Yes. A congratulatory telegram was sent, ”said spokesman for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

The last time the leaders spoke on the phone on June 1, during the conversation, the parties exchanged views on the measures taken in both countries to combat coronavirus. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude for the supply of American ventilators to Russia.

Then the Russian president congratulated Donald Trump on the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Crew Dragon on May 30, which delivered American astronauts to the International Space Station.

In addition, in May, Putin and Trump exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory. In a telephone conversation, they discussed the fact that, following the tradition of alliance, Russia and the United States can achieve much in solving acute problems, including with coronavirus. The leaders rated the current level of cooperation positively.

Recall earlier, US Ambassador John Sullivan on behalf of President Donald Trump congratulated the Russians on the Day of Russia, which is celebrated on June 12.

Protests against the backdrop of the celebration of Independence Day 

US Independence Day is dedicated to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the British Empire in 1776. By tradition, on this day, Americans launch fireworks, meet with relatives, and barbecue. However, this year in a number of cities of the country the holiday was very peculiar.

So, in Baltimore, protesters threw off a pedestal and drowned a monument to Christopher Columbus, erected in 1984 in the Herring Run city park.

According to the local newspaper The Baltimore Sun, protesters threw a rope over the monument, knocked it down, and then threw it into the water.

Note, protesters demolish the monuments of Columbus in major cities across the country. The Spanish navigator is accused of genocide of the indigenous population of America. Previously, Columbus statues were also torn down or destroyed in Miami, Richmond, St. Paul and Boston.

Earlier, Trump Trump signed a decree on the protection of monuments, according to which, those who commit "lawless acts against the Great Country" will have long prison sentences.

Recall, dozens of US cities are covered by protests, accompanied by riots that began after the death of an African American George Floyd in Minneapolis. The man died after a police officer pressed his neck to the ground with his knee for several minutes.

Speeches against police brutality are held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Indianapolis, Boston, Detroit and many other cities.

In Washington, near the White House, protesters burned the US flag. This happened after a festive speech by President Donald Trump on Independence Day.

Protesters shouted anti-government slogans, including against "slavery, genocide and war" and "America has never been great."

  • Protesters burned an American flag near the White House

Presidential statements 

Earlier, President Donald Trump called for the adoption of a law according to which the year of imprisonment will be the punishment for arson of the American flag. The reason for such statements by the American leader was the incident in Portland, where protesters first threw the US flag on the monument to the first US president George Washington, then set it on fire and knocked down the monument.

Speaking on July 4 with a festive speech on the occasion of Independence Day, Trump said that the United States defeated the Nazis and Communists, and soon they will defeat the left. He noted that at the moment the country is crushed by people who do not understand what they are doing.

The American leader emphasized that authorities would not allow an angry mob to “demolish statues and erase history.”

During his speech, the US president promised citizens that the country will become the best in the world after defeating the coronavirus. He noted that four months ago, the country set records in everything, but then the “terrible plague from China” came and everything collapsed. Nevertheless, the president is convinced that the United States is on the path to "an incredible victory."