In a stunning moment during a July 3rd phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump that Russia deserves credit for helping America win its independence from Britain—an assertion now raising eyebrows across Washington.
According to the Russian state media outlet Tass, Putin used the conversation to highlight what he called a long history of U.S.-Russian cooperation. He claimed that Russia once provided weapons and financial support to the American colonies during their fight for freedom—suggesting that Moscow played a historic role in defeating the British Empire.
The call, which lasted nearly an hour, was primarily focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine. But Putin’s pivot to historical revisionism seemed intended to recast Russia as a longtime American ally.
President Trump, however, wasn’t buying it.
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin,” Trump said after a rally in Iowa. “I don’t think he’s looking to stop [the war in Ukraine], and that’s too bad.”
Just hours after the call, Ukraine reported yet another Russian drone assault, underscoring the grim reality that diplomacy alone may not deter Putin’s aggression.
Putin Doubles Down, Trump Stands Firm
According to the Kremlin, Putin told Trump that Russia will “achieve its goals” in Ukraine and has no plans to back down. The Russian leader described the call as “frank, businesslike, and concrete.”
But Trump, who campaigned on ending the Ukraine war swiftly and restoring global peace through strength, came away frustrated.
“I don’t think he’s there,” Trump added. “I just don’t think he wants to stop.”
A Convenient History Lesson—or Propaganda?
Putin later revealed in a state-run interview that he tried to emphasize America’s “special relationship” with Russia during the call. He claimed that Russia supported the U.S. during its founding, offered financial help during the Civil War, and even backed the Union against the Confederacy.
“We backed their quest for independence,” Putin stated on Russian television. “We provided arms and offered financial assistance.”
But according to American historians, the story is more complex—and far less flattering for Russia.
Historian Paul Behringer, in a 2024 academic paper, wrote that while early U.S.-Russia relations were polite, they were also distant. Russia remained officially neutral during the American Revolution and even refused to recognize U.S. diplomats until the early 1800s.
Behringer did note that during the Civil War, Russia showed sympathy for the Union and later sold Alaska to the United States. However, any “friendship” faded quickly as ideological divisions deepened.
Where Do U.S.-Russia Relations Go From Here?
Despite vague talk from the Kremlin about possible negotiations, there is still no clear timetable for peace in Ukraine. Putin’s insistence that Russia won’t retreat from its goals casts doubt on whether diplomacy can move the needle—at least while he remains in power.
As for President Trump, he remains committed to a strong, America-first foreign policy—one that rejects historical revisionism and prioritizes national security.
While Putin may want to rewrite history, Trump’s focus is on writing the future—one that puts the American people, and American freedom, first.