Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a high-five in extraordinary scenes as they greeted each other at the G20 summit in Argentina.
Prince Salman, who is under the spotlight after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, was sat alone at the summit on Friday when Mr Putin approached him with a broad smile on his face.
Before sitting down in the seat next to the crown prince, the Russian President held up his hand for a warm greeting.
The world leaders then shared an animated high five.
Both leaders have lately been facing international criticism, with President Donald Trump yesterday cancelling a meeting with Mr Putin following Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian vessels.
The Russian President has been under pressure after the long-simmering tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated on Sunday when Russia was accused of opening fire on Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has shown images what he claims to be tanks amassing close to his country, with a base for the armoured vehicles just 18km from the border.
The G20 summit is also clouded by concerns about the gruesome killing of Saudi journalist Mr Khashoggi.
Intelligence agencies in the United States have concluded the crown prince ordered Mr Khashoggi's killing, although Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied that.
The summit is the first major international event Prince Mohammed has attended since the murder. The killing of Mr Khashoggi has strained Saudi Arabia’s ties with the West and battered Prince Mohammed's image abroad.
Prince Mohammed spoke with world leaders at the summit, with journalists seeing the crown prince speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron and others in Buenos Aires.
Mr Macron's office would not comment on what was discussed.
EU leaders urged G20 participants to address concerns about journalist safety and the war in Yemen.
Prime Minister Theresa May is prepared to raise the murder of the Washington Post columnist if she meets the Middle Eastern leader at the summit, officials have said.
The spokesman said the Prime Minister will press the crown prince over the killing, and the bloodshed in Yemen, if they meet at the leaders’ gathering this weekend.
Both Mrs May and the crown prince will be in Argentina’s capital for the two day meeting of world leaders but are not scheduled to meet one-on-one.
