Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Washington was willing to work with Russia, but only in instances that would benefit the US and its allies.

The newly minted American diplomat made his international debut at a G20 foreign ministers gathering in Bonn, Germany, during which he took a more cautioned approach with regards to Russia amid questions of the White House’s relationship with the country.

Mr Tillerson’s remarks to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov send mixed signals from the White House, as President Donald Trump has pledged to work with President Vladimir Putin – but is consistent with the administration’s controversial “America First” doctrine.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

“The United States will consider working with Russia when we can find areas of practical cooperation that will benefit the American people,” he said after meeting with Mr Lavrov.

“Where we do not see eye to eye, the United States will stand up for interests and values of American and her allies.”

Much speculation has circled Mr Tillerson regarding sanctions imposed on Russia following their invasion of Ukraine and illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. As chief executive of Exxon Mobil, Mr Tillerson brokered an estimated $500bn deal with Russia that was frozen by the 2014 sanctions.

But the Secretary urged Russia to meet the Minsk ceasefire commitments in the region.

Mr Tillerson’s somewhat firmer position on relations with Russia followed Defence Secretary James Mattis’ comment that the US is not in a position for military collaboration with the Kremlin.

“We are not in a position right now to collaborate on a military level,” Mr Mattis said at Nato headquarters in Brussels. “But our political leaders will engage and try to find common ground.”

The US stopped military-to-military relations with Russia following the 2014 sanctions. But President Trump had repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin during his campaign, and suggested the two countries would work together to fight Isis.

At the moment, the US and Russia military communicate in Syria about air sorties, to avoid mid-air collisions, but do not cooperate further than that.

Mr Putin on Thursday called for increased intelligence cooperation with the US and NATO.

Loading....

“It's in everyone’s interest to resume dialogue between the intelligence agencies of the United States and other members of NATO,” Mr Putin said, addressing Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

“It’s absolutely clear that in the area of counter-terrorism all relevant governments and international groups should work together.”

In Brussels, the Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, also expressed a willingness to resume cooperation with the Pentagon.

But Russia’s proposals come at a fraught time for the US administration. Mr Trump was obliged to get rid of his national security advisor, Michael Flynn, after it emerged he had lied about the content of a call he made to a Russian diplomat.

Meanwhile, senior Democrats have called for an independent inquiry into what links Mr Trump may or may not have to Russia.

This comes against a backdrop of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election to try and benefit Mr Trump. Mr Trump has repeatedly downplayed US intelligence claims of Russian interference, and claimed he and his administration are the victims of illegal leaks and “fake news”.

As it was Mr Mattis, had little problem saying he believed Moscow had tried to interfere in the election.

“Right now, I would just say there's very little doubt that they have either interfered or they have attempted to interfere in a number of elections in the democracies,” he said.

Meanwhile in Bonn, Mr Lavrov denied that Russia had any involvement in meddling in US affairs.