Vladimir Putin receives a sailor's cap and a frock from a sailor during his visit to Ukraine, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin looks as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori gestures to the press, before their meeting at the Hermitage Museum, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma place burning candles during a commemorating service, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin and U.S. National Security Adviser Samuel Berger smile as they shake hands during a meeting, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Islam Karimov have a conversation, as students look on, during a visit to the State Islamic University in Tashkent, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin bows and Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov smiles while attending a ceremony in Ashgabat, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin listens to Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Zaslavl-1 residence in Belarus, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin speaks as European Commission President Romano Prodi and Portuguese Premier Antonio Guterres listen during a joint news conference after talks at the Kremlin, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Bill Clinton sit down for summit talks at the Kremlin, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin meets with Italian Premier Giuliano Amato in Rome, June 2000.