Russia and the US failed to bridge their deep differences on Washington's plans to site elements of a missile defence shield in eastern Europe and on how to replace a key nuclear arms reduction treaty due to expire next year.

The meeting of the so-called "two plus two" group of the US and Russian foreign and defence ministers seemed to offer no prospect of an early thaw in relations between the two countries, weeks before Russia is set to inaugurate Dmitry Medvedev as its president.