Jim Mattis, the US Defence Secretary, is understood to be open to the idea of speaking with Sergei Shoigu, the Defence Minister for Putin’s Eastern superstate, according to US officials.
If Mr Mattis and Mr Shoigu were to have discussions, it would be the first time since 2015 defence chiefs from both superpowers would have communicated.
Two officials insisted the US Defence Secretary has expressed an openness to talks with his counterpart.
However they did not claim Mr Mattis was actively seeking discussions with Mr Shoigu in person or otherwise.
It is understood the chance of talks between both arose after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met at Helsinki.
Since 2015 the highest level of defence talks between the US and Russia has been thanks to Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, and General Valery Gerasimov, the Russia chief of the general staff.
But a former official at the Pentagon, Derek Chollet, expressed doubt whether Mr Mattis would actually find discussions with his Russian counterpart useful.
And he pondered whether the Defence chief feels as though he should test the waters with Mr Shoigu to see the relationship “for himself”.
He said: “Perhaps Mattis feels as though he has to test the proposition for himself, but I don’t hold out much hope that he’s going to get anywhere.
“If anything, he could expose himself as out of step with his boss.
“If he sends a tough message to the Russians, and they say: ‘that’s very interesting but your boss doesn’t agree,’ – then that’s going to be an interesting conversation.”
Trump was panned following remarks he made during a joint press conference with Putin.
The Republican firebrand appeared to side with Russia over matters of election meddling.
He stated: “I don’t see any reason why it would be. President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
But after being attacked by a number of high profile Republicans, the President backtracked on his remarks after arriving back in the US.
He stated: “In a key sentence in my remarks I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t.’
“The sentence should have been: ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’
“Sort of a double negative.”
After his initial comments high-profile Republican senator John McCain blasted Mr Trump for his “disgraceful” performance.
He commented: “Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.
“The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naivety, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate.
“But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake.”