The president noted that Russia once backed US independence from the UK and supported the Union in the Civil War Russia has had long periods of amicable relations with the US and supported America at key junctures in its history, President Vladimir Putin has said. In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, a clip of which was released on Sunday, Putin offered an upbeat take on Russia’s longstanding ties with the US despite the recent tensions over the Ukraine conflict. “By the way, as for