Senior Russian and US officials have played down their differences since president Vladimir Putin’s tough speech in Munich condemning American “unilateralism”. But they are struggling to ease the tensions between Russia and the west over issues ranging from Iraq and Iran to American plans to site missile defence bases in two former Soviet satellite states – Poland and the Czech Republic.

For the US, Russian concern is only one consideration among many. But for Russia, its relationship with the west is central to its view of itself and of its position in the world.