Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with US President Donald Trump by telephone on 3 July, congratulating him in advance of the 4 July Independence Day holiday, Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow. During the call, Putin said Russia had played a “significant role” in the formation of American statehood, citing assistance “during the War of Independence and the Civil War,” according to Ushakov’s account of the conversation. Putin also said the two nations are linked by “deeper historical roots” beyond their cooperation in the two World Wars. The leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, with Trump again urging a rapid cease-fire, Ushakov said. They also reviewed developments in Syria, Iran and the wider Middle East. No date was set for a potential face-to-face meeting. The conversation lasted roughly 50 minutes and followed an earlier call on 14 June.