Vladimir Putin looks at his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak in Moscow, April 2001.

Vladimir Putin welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan during their meeting in the Moscow Kremlin, April 2001.

Vladimir Putin shakes the hands of President of Venezuela Hugo Chaves after a signing ceremony, May 2001.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan gestures talking to President Vladimir Putin during their meeting, May 2001.

Vladimir Putin and Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica address reporters after talks in Belgrade, June 2001.

Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush at a meeting in Slovenia, June 2001.

Vladimir Putin meets French President Jacques Chirac in St Petersburg, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin looks at former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during their meeting at the kremlin, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin hugs his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin during a signing ceremony, July 2001.

From right: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, French President Jacques Chirac, President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a session of the G8 summit in Italy, July 2001.