US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev may have talks when they attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this weekend in Lima, Peru, the White House said yesterday.

"Although there is not a firm time yet it is very likely that President Bush will meet with the president of the Russian Federation," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

The talks between the two leaders were expected to focus on the situation in Georgia, the global financial crisis, the US anti-missile defense program and other issues of mutual concerns, Johndroe said.

Relations between Moscow and Washington worsen this year to a state not seen since the end of the Cold War over August's conflict between Russian and Georgia and US plans to install a new missile shield in East Europe.