Barack Obama and his family visit Russia

US President Barack Obama arrived in Moscow on Monday for a summit.

Photo: Barack Obama and his family visit Russia

His plane touched down at Vnukovo airport to the west of the capital at 1:20 pm (0920 GMT) for his first visit to Russia as president, AFP reports.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters proceeded down a formal reception line on the airport tarmac, shaking hands with Russian officials. The president's first event in Russia on Monday is a wreath-laying ceremony at the Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Associated Press reports.

The summit with Russian leaders aimed at reaching an agreement to cut stockpiles of nuclear warheads, but also expected to touch upon the war in Afghanistan, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, terrorism and the jousting for influence in other post-Soviet countries.

The summit comes less than a year after the conflict in Georgia caused the worst tensions between the United States and Russia since the end of the cold war. Since taking office in January, Mr. Obama has called for a “reset” in relations, and the summit will offer the most telling evidence so far about how difficult it will be for him to achieve this goal, The New York Times reports.

Mr Obama is also expected to hold talks with Vladimir Putin, currently prime minister and formerly president, on Tuesday, BBC News reports.