Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar before their meeting in Madrid, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin, his wife Lyudmila, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Berlin mayor Eberhard Diepgen and his wife have a talk while standing in front of Berlin's Brandenburger Tor, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin and Moldova's President Petru Lucinschi make their way to a news conference in Chisinau, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin speaks with his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze during the CIS leaders summit in Moscow, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin has a conversation with Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh before starting talks at the Kremlin, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Council of Europe's Secretary-General Schwimmer as Italian Foreign Minister, Chairman of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Lamberto Dini looks on prior to talks in Moscow, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin talks to Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos during their meeting at the Kremlin, June 2000.

Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin shake hands after a signing ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, July 2000.

Vladimir Putin poses with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il before their meeting in Pyongyang, July 2000.

Vladimir Putin stands among the leaders of the Group of Eight during a photo session after their first full session of talks in Japan, July 2000.