Sticking points for Trump and Putin at summit

Personal proximity still hinges on the background of US-Russia relations

MOSCOW: The US and Russian presidents may swap compliments at their first summit in Helsinki on Monday, but they are deeply divided on issues including Syria, Ukraine and alleged Russian election-meddling.

Washington has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia over recent years, some of which Trump himself reluctantly signed off on after taking office in 2017.

Here is a summary of the sticking points between the two powers:
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. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has insisted that Trump at his meeting with Putin "will make clear that meddling in our elections is completely unacceptable."

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.

Trump has made evasive comments on whether Washington might recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

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.

In February, Moscow said a number of Russian civilians were killed by US-led coalition bombing. These were reportedly mercenaries fighting alongside pro-regime forces.

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 hyper-sonic 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."

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.

Trump has lashed out at other NATO allies, urging them to spend more on defence.

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.

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.



Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov afterwards told state news agency RIA Novosti: "We very much hope that he (Trump) starts the process of de-escalating tensions."

The United States this year joined in a wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats from various countries over the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain.

Russia in early July raised import duties on some US imported goods in response to steep tariffs announced by the US on its steel and aluminium, part of a global trade war.