Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged the United States not to reward Russia for bad behaviour, including shooting down a Malaysian Airlines flight and annexing Crimea.
Ms Bishop is in the United States with Defence Minister Marise Payne for annual talks with their US counterparts.
The Foreign Minister said she was concerned President Trump's aim of engaging with Russia could mean "Russia will seek to escape responsibility for its past behaviour".
Last week, Mr Trump held talks with Russia's leader Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. His approach was attacked by some Republicans as a tragic mistake and disgraceful.
Mr Trump has also invited Mr Putin to visit Washington later this year.
Ms Bishop told the Australian newspaper Mr Trump's aim of engaging with Russia was appropriate, but she said she did not want to see Mr Putin escape responsibility for its past behaviour.
She will urge US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to maintain pressure on Russia, "not just on MH17 but on the annexation of Crimea".
Ms Bishop also mentioned the Russia intervention in eastern Ukraine, its relationship with the Syrian regime which used chemical weapons against its own people, the nerve agent attack in the United Kingdom and "growing evidence" of cyber attacks.
It will be Ms Bishop's first meeting with Mr Pompeo, who recently replaced Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State.
"My message to Secretary Pompeo is we will continue to need 100 per cent support from the US particularly through the UN Security Council," she said.
She said she wanted the US to keep fully backing Australia's attempts to call Russia to account for its role in the MH17 disaster.
"We remain committed to seeking justice for MH17. We have attributed state responsibility to Russia," Ms Bishop said.
All 298 people on board the Malaysian Airlines flight were killed when it was shot down in July 2014, 38 of those on board were Australians.
She said the alliance between Australia and the US is vital for security and prosperity.
Ms Bishop said the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation (AUSMIN) talks would further strengthen the Australia-US alliance.
