Europe and US have no 'common position' on Russia says top EU leader

Following talks with Donald Trump in Brussels, the EU's top leader Donald Tusk has declared that there is no "common position" with the US on Russia.

Trump has regularly criticised the European Union as well as membership of NATO, which was also part of the discussions.

EU President Donald Tusk said: "I'm not 100% sure we can say that we have a common position, a common opinion on Russia, although when it comes to the conflict on Ukraine we were on the same line."

In the discussions, NATO has agreed to issue further support to the US-led coalition against Isis, but debate still remains over each individual nations' financial contributions to the organisation.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition with more Awacs [Airborne Warning and Control System] flight time, more information sharing and air-to-air refuelling.

"This will send a strong political message of NATO's commitment to the fight against terrorism and also improve our co-ordination within the coalition but it does not mean that NATO will engage in combat operations."

The president has voiced criticism of other NATO countries for spending less on defence than an agreed 2% of national output.

Trump is reaching the end of his first foreign trip as president which started in Saudi Arabia where a massive arms deal was signed.

He then went onto Israel where Trump is hoping to pursue greater levels of peace in the region particularly with Palestine.

After departing the Middle East, Trump moved onto the European leg of the tour which began with a trip to the Vatican including a private audience with the Pope.

The visit will conclude in Sicily with the annual G7 summit.