A top US military chief will meet with his Russia counterpart in Finland to discuss “current issues between the countries.”

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, will meet in Helsinki on Friday, the Finnish military said.

The meeting “takes place on the initiative of both countries,” the Finns added.

In a statement, they said they will also meet separately with Finland’s president and the Nordic country’s military chief.

The Finns will not take part in the US-Russia meeting.

Vladimir Putin opens Russia's controversial bridge to Crimea

Tensions between the US and Russia remain high over Moscow’s backing of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

The US says large numbers of civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes in the Middle Eastern country, while Russia contends it never targets civilian areas.

Russia has also been accused of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, which is the subject of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

In April, Nato’s top military officer met with Gen Gerasimov in the first such encounter since relations between Moscow and the alliance plunged to post-Cold War lows over Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Show all 24 1 /24 Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War A legendary World War II era Soviet tank T-34 AP Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with military personnel during the Victory Day parade at Red Square AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian army MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30 jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation Reuters Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russia's newest robotic complex Uran-9 takes part in the Victory Day military parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian troops march during the Victory Day military parade AP Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian servicemen drive military vehicles during the Victory Day parade Reuters Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian servicewomen march at Red Square AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the Victory Day military parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian Msta S artillery vehicles AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War People carrying picturers of fallen soldiers queue to pay their respect at the Soviet War Memorial AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russia's new generation of strategic missiles Yars EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the Victory Day military parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Army ATV-1 during the parade Rex Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian military servicemen march during Victory Day parade in Moscow EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Buk-M2 air defence missile systems parade through Red Square AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War A Russian World War II veteran is greeted by a young boy after the Victory Day military parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian servicemen ride on a military vehicle Reuters Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian honour guards march AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a wreath laying ceremony to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the Victory Day parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War epa06721489 A Russian BTR- MDM Rakushka (Shell) airborne armoured personnel carrier (APC) takes part the Victory Day military parade in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2018. Russia marks the 73rd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War WWII veterans take part in celebrations marking the 73rd anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II AFP/Getty Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take part in a wreath laying ceremony AFP/Getty Images Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russia's Msta-S self-propelled howitzers during the Victory Day military parade EPA Victory Day 2018: Russia commemorates end of Second World War Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, toast during a reception after the Victory Parade AP

On Thursday, Nato’s defence ministers were set to unveil a new plan to reinforce their presence in Europe in the event of any crisis with Russia.

If such a conflict were to break out, it would be met with the deployment of 30 troop battalions, 30 squadrons of aircraft and 30 warships within 30 days, the ministers are expected to say at a meeting in Brussels.

However, details of the plan, which were drawn up by the US and are set to be in place by 2020, are sketchy.

The ministers are also likely to announce a strengthening of maritime operations, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, where Russian ships have been shadowing Nato vessels.