The United States criticised Vietnam for having invited Russia's President Vladimir Putin to Hanoi, the U.S. embassy in Hanoi said ahead of an expected state visit this week. Mr. Putin is expected to visit Vietnam on June 19 and 20, after repeated invitations from Vietnamese leaders.

The U.S. government has criticized Vietnam’s decision to host Russia’s President Vladimir Putin this week, just days after the conclusion of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.