Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin greeted each other at the APEC summit in Vietnam, where they shook hands and exchanged a few words.
The US president then sent a warning to his Asian rivals, telling them America would no longer tolerate bad trade deals.
Mr Trump approached Russia‘s leader at a photo session in the Vietnamese city of Danang. He gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder and held a brief discussion.
It comes amid contrasting reports the two are set for a formal meeting – something Washington denies but the Kremlin states is a possibility.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders would meet “one way or another”.
Mr Putin’s spokesman said: “For now there is no clarity. Contradictory information has been coming from our American colleagues.
“The meeting will happen on the sidelines one way or another.”
While Washington is denying a meeting will take place, the Kremlin said they understood one was likely.
Mr Trump sent a strong warning to Asia-Pacific countries at the summit today, telling them America will no longer tolerate unfair trade deals.
Having just concluded a state visit to China, Trump said the United States was ready to make a bilateral deal with any country in the Indo-Pacific region – but only on the basis of “mutual respect and mutual benefit”.
He blasted the World Trade Organization and multilateral trade deals, and some analysts expect tougher action may be imminent from the White House to fight bilateral trade imbalances with China exacerbated by Beijing’s state-led economic model.
This is a developing story, more to follow…