Joint declaration by Trump and Putin comes amid strains in bilateral relations

WASHINGTON－Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump published a joint statement to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the meeting between Soviet and US soldiers at the Elbe River, hailing the trust and cooperation between the two countries, the Kremlin said.

The declaration was aimed to highlight cooperation between America and Russia throughout World War II and it commemorated the 75th anniversary of the linkup of US and Russian troops at the Elbe in Germany on April 25, 1945. It signified the end of the war was near.

"April 25, 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of the historic meeting between Soviet and US soldiers, who shook hands on the damaged bridge over the Elbe River," said the statement issued between the two on Saturday, adding that the event heralded the decisive defeat of the Nazi regime.

"The meeting on the Elbe represented a culmination of tremendous efforts by the many countries and peoples that joined forces under the framework of the United Nations Declaration of 1942," it said.

In the statement, both Trump and Putin said they sought to cast their differences aside and work with one another on major issues.

The joint statement described the historic meeting between Soviet and American forces as "an example of how our countries can set aside differences, build trust and cooperate in the name of a common goal".

The statement hailed the "Spirit of the Elbe," calling for joint action to confront the most important challenges of the 21st century.

"As we work today to confront the most important challenges of the 21st century, we pay tribute to the valor and courage of all those who fought together to defeat fascism. Their heroic feat will never be forgotten."

The statement was first published by the Kremlin, and the White House published it later as well.

In a video published on Twitter, the US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said the meeting at the Elbe was "a symbol of what we can achieve when we work together for a common cause."

The statement by Trump and Putin comes amid deep strains in US-Russian ties over many issues, from arms control and the US alleging Russian intervention in Ukraine and Syria, to US charges that Russia has spread disinformation about the novel coronavirus pandemic and has interfered in US election campaigns.

The last time the US and Russia came together to celebrate the anniversary of the Elbe meeting was in 2010 when president Barack Obama and president Dmitry Medvedev met as the administration attempted to reset relationships between the countries.

Putin this year invited Trump to attend Moscow's May 9 celebration of the World War II victory, with the president instead choosing to send his national security adviser Robert O'Brien before the event's cancellation due to the pandemic.

Trump said he had hoped to travel to Moscow to mark the anniversary.

He said he hoped to promote cooperation with Moscow, and said he believed Putin's denials of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Earlier this month Trump spoke with Putin on two consecutive days about oil production as the fossil fuel industry in both countries faces historic lows.

AGENCIES—XINHUA