President Vladimir Putin arrived in Germany Sunday for his fifth meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, presiding over the Group of Eight industrialized nations, this year.
Thirteen Russian ministers and officials, and 11 from the German side are also expected to attend.
The negotiations to highlight U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Washington says will help counter possible threats from Iran or North Korea.
Moscow has opposed the move, saying it jeopardized Russia's security. Germany has cautiously called for an open dialogue on missile defense, saying these plans should not undermine mutual trust in Europe.
Another issue likely to come under discussion is Iran and its controversial nuclear program. Both Russia and Germany are among the six negotiators on Iran, which also include France, Britain, the United States and China.
Western nations, including Germany, have sought to impose tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which they suspect of pursuing a secret weapons program, while Russia has resisted additional sanctions. Russia is building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr.
The status of the predominately Albanian province of Kosovo is another bone of contention between Russia and the West, including Germany. Kosovo has been seeking independence from Serbia, and the West has supported the move, but Russia, a strong Serbian ally, has opposed an independent status for the province, saying it would set a dangerous precedent.
Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said earlier that trade between Russia and Germany increased 13.5% to $22.7 billion in the first half of 2007, with German investment in the Russian economy exceeding $2 billion in the same period.
