STICKING POINTS

RUSSIAN 'MEDDLING': Since the start of Trump's presidency, relations have been tainted by allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and suspicions that the billionaire's campaign team colluded with the Kremlin. Russia has denied any interference. Trump has said that he will  put the matter on table with  Putin.

WAR IN UKRAINE: Along with its Western allies, the US accuses Moscow of providing military support to pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies this. Washington long resisted providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, fearing this could exacerbate the conflict, but in March the US approved a deal to sell anti-tank missiles to Kiev, angering Russia.

SYRIA QUAGMIRE: Air strikes on Syria by the US and its allies in April 2017 and April 2018 in response to alleged chemical attacks by President Bashar al-Assad's forces have infuriated Russia.

DISARMAMENT FEUDS: The US and Russia have accused each other of breaking international agreements over disarmament. In March, Putin boasted Russia has developed new "invincible" weapons including hypersonic missiles and unmanned submarines. The Pentagon in February called for a revamp of the US nuclear arsenal and development of new low-yield atomic weapons. Moscow condemned the new US nuclear policy as "bellicose" and "anti-Russian."

TENSIONS OVER NATO: Moscow views Nato's moves to beef up its eastern defences as aggressive steps aimed at encircling Russia. Russia is also concerned at Nato plans launched in 2010 for a European missile shield that is due to be completed in 2020 with installations in Romania and Poland.

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: Trump's unilateral decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal signed in 2015 after lengthy negotiations and to reimpose sanctions on Iran left both Russia and the West flabbergasted. Russia, which has close ties both with Syria and Iran, has said European countries must "jointly defend their legal interests" in the deal.

NORTH KOREA: Russia reacted positively to a June 12 meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They signed a joint declaration but did not achieve any concrete breakthroughs on Pyongyang's nuclear activities. North Korea and Russia has.