The two-day summit in Moscow comes at at an extremely difficult time for both President Clinton, mired in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and Boris Yeltsin, who has in effect no government.

Facing the worst crisis of his presidency, Russia's media have labelled Mr Yeltsin a "lame duck" president since he sacked his government and re-appointed Viktor Chernomyrdin as Prime Minister.

Almost simultaneously both Presidents are under pressure from legislatures dominated by their political opponents.

But in the run up to the Moscow meeting, White House aides have been trying to impress on everyone that this will not be a lame-duck summit.

Summit sidelines

Not much to laugh about now

Russia's economic meltdown has knocked other summit issues to the sidelines.

Talks on arms control, nuclear sales to Iran, Nato expansion, conflict in Kosovo and the festering issue of Baghdad's weapons programme have all fallen by the wayside although officials insist such issues will be discussed.

US National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger: America should "help Russians find Russian solutions to their domestic problems"

Nonetheless, Mr Clinton's staff have struggled to justify the meeting.

"At this point, we don't have a Russian economic team. We don't have a Russian economic plan," U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers told a news briefing outlining the summit's agenda.

Humiliating confession

President Clinton: We can't solve our problems alone because we're in this web of mutuality

Domestically Mr Clinton's biggest challenge is the restoration of his political standing after the humiliation of confessing to an "inappropriate relationship" with Monica Lewinsky.

It is not yet known how much damage the Lewinsky scandal has done to Mr Clinton's support base, though many loyal supporters were shocked, and he has acknowledged the need to seek forgiveness from "a family, an administration, a Congress and a whole country."

His critics have interpreted his failure to address the Russian crisis or the threat to the global economy as a sign of a weakened presidency.

"These are two weak presidents trying to prop each other up," said House Speaker Newt Gingrich in an interview with the New York Times on Saturday.

"Who knows what kind of promises they'll make to each other, what they'll agree to."

Pretty pictures

President Clinton: "I'm having to become quite an expert in this business of asking for forgiveness"

Republican House Majority Whip Tom DeLay was sceptical Mr Clinton's visit would "accomplish more than sound bites and pretty pictures for the media."

"His presidency is marred with scandal, his moral authority is at an all-time low and his worldwide respect is diminished by the sordid stories of the president's conduct," he said.

Even before his televised confession, President Clinton was having a tough time getting the Republican-dominated Congress to approve his request for $18 bn to help the IMF replenish its resources after big loans to Russia and Asia.

Faced with economic meltdown, Mr Clinton cannot expect to find many friends in Moscow either.

Critics say Washington has antagonised Moscow by offering less financial backing and investment than Russia expected, giving the impression that Russia is no longer a top priority or considered an important power.

Tough conditions

Many Russians blame Washington for their economic problems by pressing the IMF to impose tough conditions on economic aid.

Many Russians blame Washington for their problems

So for Mr Yeltsin, his meeting with President Clinton may seem to many struggling Russians like plotting with the enemy.

And for the White House's own masters of spin, a struggling Russian leader whose time has passed is probably the last person a politically tarnished president needs to be associated with.

But House Democratic leader, Richard Gephardt, says it would be "irresponsible" on Clinton's part not to go to Moscow.

"The president's trip will be the most immediate way by which the United States can reiterate the need for continued economic reforms in Russia," he said.

Indeed the main reason given for Mr Clinton going ahead with the visit is what would happen if he did not.