Pizzas galore!

He appeared to hold out an olive branch to the Russians by saying that it was “entirely legitimate for our discussions to talk about not only offensive weapons systems but also defensive”. The US has previously resisted Moscow’s insistence on linking deals on nuclear weapons and missile defence.

Mr Obama acknowledged that the planned shield in Poland and the Czech Republic was a “point of deep concern and sensitivity to the Russian Government”. A review that he had ordered of whether the system “works or not” would be ready within weeks. Mr Obama promised to pass the assessment to Mr Medvedev and said that it would be “the subject of extensive negotiations”. The two sides signed a key agreement to allow the US military to transport military equipment and troops across Russian land and airspace to support operations against the Taleban in Afghanistan.

The deal was agreed as part of a resumption of military co-operation that had been frozen by the US after Russia’s war with Georgia over South Ossetia last August. The pair also decided to revive a presidential commission set up in the 1990s by Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin to foster co-operation across a range of areas from economic development to healthcare.

Mr Obama is due to meet Mr Putin, now the Prime Minister, for the first time today, days after accusing him of advocating “old Cold War approaches to US-Russian relations”. But he pulled back from criticism when asked whether he thought Mr Medvedev or Mr Putin was in charge in Russia. Mr Obama replied: “My understanding is that President Medvedev is the President and Prime Minister Putin is the Prime Minister.

“My impression is that President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are working effectively together and our interest is in working with the Russian Government as a whole.”

What they said

“We have resolved to reset US-Russia relations so that we can cooperate more effectively.” Obama

“No one is saying that missile defence is harmful in itself or that it poses a threat to someone.” Medvedev

“Before, all we were hearing was that all decisions have been made and they have nothing to do with you but they are not a threat to you.” Medvedev

“The president and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States has suffered from a sense of drift ... President Medvedev and I are committed to leaving behind the suspicion and rivalry of the past.” Obama

“My understanding is, President Medvedev is the president and Prime Minister Putin is the prime minister.” Obama

Times Recommends

• UN may halt 400-year-old 'freedom of the seas'
• Where the Rosetta belongs can’t be set in stone
• Gas deal on hold, but Ukraine may pay in the end