[mass55th]

And he's already interviewed Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Regarding Putin's claim about helping the U.S. Achieve Independence. Perhaps Putin is alluding to Prussia. Prussia was centered around the region of East Prussia, which is now part of modern-day Poland and Russia. General Baron von Steuben was from Prussia. He was born in Madeburg, Prussia, which became part of the Russian Empire in 1795.

The Prussian Nobleman Who Helped Save the American Revolution: When American troops faltered, Baron von Steuben helped whip them into shape

[marcusmaximus]

Catherine the Great ruled Russia in 1776. And she was German.

[PGR88]

Russia returned the favor by supporting the Union in the American Civil War. The goodwill at this time eventually led to Russia selling Alaska to the United States.

The Russian fleet came to New York in September of 1863. The Russians were warmly welcomed by New Yorkers, and seen as a counterweight to the British and British Navy, who were supporting the South outright, at least commercially.

And - History keeps repeating itself - the Russians were occupied in Poland (ie. Belarus and Ukraine) with British-French proxy war aiding a Polish rebellion.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1935/may/visit-russian-squadrons-1863