US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are said to be admirers of one another, however, both were keen to show the world who is boss during a long-lasting handshake.
Meeting at a photocall with fellow world leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders’ week event in Da Nang, Vietnam, the pair stood alongside each other after sharing another white-knuckle handshake.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters aboard Air Force One no formal talks are going to be held between Presidents Trump and Putin, but a sideline chat is possible.
“Regarding a Putin meeting, there was never a meeting confirmed and there will not be one that takes place due to scheduling conflicts on both sides,” Ms Sanders said.
“There is no formal meeting or anything scheduled for them.”
She added: “Now, they’re going to be in the same place. Are they going to bump into each other and say hello? Certainly possible, and likely.
“But in terms of a scheduled, formal, meeting there’s not one on the calendar and we don’t anticipate there will be one.”
However, the Kremlin said a meeting between the pair “will happen one way or another”.
Officials in Moscow said they have been “receiving contradictory signals” from the White House but claimed the Russian leader would meet with his American counterpart.
Last month, Russia announced it would be suing Mr Trump’s government over the “illegal seizure” of its diplomatic properties in the US.
American officials expelled 35 Russian diplomats and took control of the buildings in response to Moscow kicking out 455 embassy staff from embassies across Russia.
The diplomatic crisis comes despite repeated attempts by President Trump to improve links with Mr Putin’s government.