Trump to speak by phone with Putin

Syria is expected to be the main topic when US President Donald Trump speaks by phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump will speak by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. (AAP)

US President Donald Trump will speak by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the White House says.

The call is set to take place at 12.30pm (2.30am AEST on Wednesday).

A senior Trump administration official said the two leaders would likely discuss the war in Syria, where Moscow backs the government of Bashar al-Assad and the US supports rebels trying to overthrow him.