Obama kicks off visits to Russia, Italy, Ghana

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday left for Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev in a bid to "reset" U.S. relations with Russia. He will then head to Italy for the G8 summit and visit Ghana.

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk to  board the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn at the White  House in Washington, DC, en route to Andrews Air Force Base to  leave for Russia.(Xinhua/Zhang Yan)

President Obama, accompanied by his family members and senior administration officials, will arrive in Moscow on Monday, his advisers told reporters on Wednesday at a press briefing.

In Moscow, Obama will have "a private and a working meeting" with Medvedev. He will also have breakfast with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

The U.S.-Russia summit is expected to focus on reducing stockpile of nuclear weapons, cooperating on non-proliferation and resolving differences over U.S. planned missile defense system in Europe. The two leaders will also discuss the latest development in Iran after the recent presidential election, Russia's bid to enter the World Trade Organization, U.S.-led military operation in Afghanistan.

Before leaving for Rome on Wednesday morning, Obama will also give a speech at the New Economic School on U.S.-Russia relations and meet some Russia political and business leaders.