Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush (R) talk during their bi-lateral at the Palazzo Doria Spinola in Genoa, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin and U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice speak during their meeting at the Kremlin, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin exchanges documents with his Guinean counterpart Lansana Conte during their meeting, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin smiles as he receives books of documents from Bavarian secret archives on Russian history, from Bavarian State Governor Edmund Stoiber, July 2001.

Vladimir Putin makes a point as he talks to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma after a solemn ceremony in Kiev, August 2001.

Vladimir Putin clinks glasses with his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen during their meeting in Kultaranta, August 2001.

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Moscow, September 2001.

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with President George W. Bush as they begin their bilateral meeting in Shanghai, October 2001.

Vladimir Putin stands with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in Moscow's Kremlin, October 2001.

Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi shake hands as they meet in Moscow's Kremlin, October 2001.

Vladimir Putin stands with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in Moscow, November 2001.

Vladimir Putin and the Indian Prime Minister Atar Behari Vajpayee talk during a document signing ceremony, November 2001.

Vladimir Putin listens to Slovakian counterpart Rudolf Schuster, November 2001.