U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin awkwardly skirted each other at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in China earlier this week that underscored the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.

The two leaders had met three times on Tuesday at the sidelines of the APEC summit although the conversations were brief, lasting only for a total of 15 to 20 minutes, according to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan.

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Despite this, the two leaders' discussions touched on a range of issues that continues to plague the relationship, including Russia's stoking of the Ukraine conflict, its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and the looming deadline for a settlement on Iran's nuclear program.

Unlike previous meetings, Obama and Putin sought to keep the spotlight on the summit and kept their policy disagreements out of view. Still, public encounters hinted the relationship remained tense, the Detroit Free Press relayed.

At the APEC's kick off, Obama and Putin walked on either side of Chinese President Xi Jinping as they approached the head of the table.

As the three came to a stop, the Russian president hoped to give his U.S. counterpart a friendly pat on the back. But as he reached out, Obama had chosen that moment to turn in a different direction, and missed the target.

U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated at a record low in the past eight months since Moscow interefered in Ukraine's affairs and after its annexation of Crimea, which has prompted a barrage of U.S.- and EU-levied sanctions.

The tensions came to a head in July following the crash of commercial flight MH17, which U.S. officials allege was shot down by rebels in Eastern Ukraine using Russian-made artillery.

Ukraine and the U.S. have long-accused Moscow of supplying military weapons and troops to separatists in Eastern Ukraine, despite a ceasefire having been declared last September.

U.S. officials had blasted Russia for its "blatant escalation" of conflict in the region and condemned the rebel-held elections as a "sham." Last week, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had warned of further sanctions should Moscow continue to "willfully violate" the ceasefire agreement.

White House security adviser Ben Rhodes said Washington recognizes Russia's clout and hopes it can become a "stabilizing force" on global issues.

Rhodes implied that Russia will not become a stabilizing force if it continues to violate its neighbor's sovereignty. 

TagsBarack Obama, APEC, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Ukraine, Bashar al-Assad, Iran's nuclear program, U.S.-Russia relations