US President Donald Trump is in Helsinki ahead of a meeting today with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He's the fourth US President seeking a re-start with Putin. The Kremlin says relations must be set straight. But Trump admits he's walking in with lowered expectations. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports from the Finnish capital.

It's been a European tour full of the usual controversies. As Donald Trump headed to Finland, that irresistible question: could we be about to see more. The capital Helsinki is bracing itself. Neither Trump nor his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are particularly popular here. On Sunday, protesters gathered in some vain hope this meeting might not take place at all.

"They bring disruption of peace and injustice to our country and to the world, so I am not for them - they are not for me. They are not for human rights. They are just for themselves. And for the rich, white men of the world."

Others see non-NATO member Finland as the best choice for host.

Through the decades, Finland has often been the venue of choice for American and Russian leaders to come face to face. Brezhnev and Ford; Bush and Gorbachev; Clinton and Yeltsin. Now: Putin and Trump are about to add their names to that list.

GUY HENDERSON HELSINKI "Almost any other U.S. president might have deemed this meeting just too politically risky to go ahead with in the current environment. Because back home 12 Russians have just been indicted for alleged meddling in the 2016 American election. Because one of Washington's closest allies - the United Kingdom - continues to accuse Moscow of an assassination attempt on its soil. None of that has deterred Donald Trump."

Though now even he admits to having low expectations.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "So having meetings with Russia, China, North Korea, I believe in it. Nothing bad is going to come out of it, and maybe some good will come out."

Experts say both face constraints.

MARKKU KIVINEN FINNISH CENTRE FOR RUSSIAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES "There are strong constraints for Trump not to show weakness in this meeting. And a similar thing for Putin as well: because the military conflicts are so strong on the agenda at the moment."

But these are two men known - for better or for worse - for making bold decisions unilaterally. The fates of nations lie in their hands. CGTN, HELSINKI.