
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave Vladimir Putin a high five in extraordinary scenes during the G20 leader's summit in Argentina.

Salman, who has been accused by the international community of ordering the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, had been left standing alone as world leaders filed past him and into a meeting room - before the Russian President arrived.

Putin, who has faced claims he ordered the nerve attack on Sergei Skripal in Britain, then held up his hand which the Saudi enthusiastically grabbed before they sat down with broad smiles on their face.

The Russian leader has also been put under increasing pressure in recent days after warships rammed, fired on, then seized three Ukrainian boats in the Kerch Strait in a serious escalation of tensions around Crimea.

Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman shared a high-five in extraordinary scenes ahead of a summit between world leaders at the G20

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds up a fingers as he speaks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the opening of the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Salman had been left standing alone as other world leaders filed into the meeting, until Putin came to sit next to him and the leaders shared a very warm greeting

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Vladimir Putin laughed together ahead of the G20 summit in Argentina

The Saudi prince is accused of crimes against humanity over the war in Yemen, and his international standing has plummeted over the killing of Mr Khashoggi - but that does not appear to have worsened him in the eyes of Putin who was happy talking to the Saudi Crown Prince

The de-facto Saudi leader and Russian President could be seen smiling broadly as they sat down together, in defiance of western leaders who have sought to ostracize them

Salman has been accused by the international community of ordering the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while Putin was accused of ordering the nerve agent attack of Sergei Skripal

The two world leaders, who have been heavily condemned by the international community, sat together during the hearing

The two world leaders appeared deep in conversation with one another. Putin has also been criticised for Russia's recent seizure of Ukrainian ships and their crews near Crimea

While Putin's sudden embrace of the Middle Eastern leader may come as a surprise, the two have actually met before - when Russia played Saudi Arabia on the opening game of the World Cup

Salman had cut a lonely figure at the summit until the arrival of Putin, as western leaders he tried to court with promises of human rights reforms admonished him over Khashoggi

The warm welcome comes as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this afternoon that a visit by President Putin to Saudi Arabia is being prepared, although the timing has not yet been finalized.

Salman's warming friendship with Putin coincides with pressure from western leaders over his human rights record, after he initially marketed himself as a reformer who would break Saudi's fundamentalist state.

CHARGE SHEET: PUTIN VS BIN SALMAN The two strongmen leaders seen high-fiving with broad smiles on their faces at the G20 meeting have both been involved in their fair share of international conflicts and alleged bloody removals of critics and opponents. Here we list some of the most recent allegations made against them: Jailing opponents: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN In 2015, the then 29-year-old Defense Minister pursues a war in Yemen against Shiite rebels that wears on today.

December 2015 sees the arrest of Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, and six other activists. She remains on death row.

November 2017 sees MbS round up hundreds of members of the Saudi royal family, government ministers and business leaders in an 'anti-corruption purge'. Some 200 end up in house arrested in Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel.

In 2017, the hardline Muslim nation executed a total of 146 people, according to Amnesty, up from 90 in 2015.

May 2018, Saudi Arabia arrests more than a dozen women's rights activists. They remain in prison, without charge.

October 2, 2018 sees the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by a 'hit squad' with links to the Saudi government. Many believe the murder was ordered by the Prince. Dissidents disappearing: Russia's President Vladimir Putin VLADIMIR PUTIN Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko dies after drinking a cup of tea poisoned with polonium at a London hotel in 2006, evidence presented at a 2016 inquiry suggests Putin ordered and approved the operation.

Journalist and Putin critic Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in her home on the Russian President's birthday, 7 October 2006. Her murder was found to have been a contract killing orders by an 'unknown person', believed by many to have been the leader himself. She had fallen ill in 2004 after drinking a cup of tea.

Oligarch Boris Berezovsky, who fled to the UK after falling out with Putin, is found dead in his home in Berkshire, in March 2013 in an apparent suicide. An inquest later recorded his death an open verdict.

In March 2014, Putin sends troops into the Ukraine after a pro-Russian leader was toppled in Kiev, sparking a bloody war which has seen Russia annex the Crimean peninsula. Major fighting ended with a 2015 ceasefire but deadly exchanges of fire are still frequent.

In March 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia are poisoned with military-grade Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, UK. A British woman is also exposed and dies. Two men, later found to be working for the Russian intelligence agency GRU are suspected of murder. This leads to global sanctions against Russia. Advertisement

Before the handshake with Putin, he was grilled for five minutes by French President Emmanuel Macron, who insisted that international experts form part of the team investigating Khashoggi's killing.

He also conveyed 'very firm' messages to the Prince over the Saudi-led war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Saudi prince is accused of crimes against humanity over the war in Yemen, and his international standing has plummeted over the killing of Mr Khashoggi.

The journalist was murdered by a hit squad in Istanbul on October 2. Saudi authorities have denied Prince Mohammed ordered the hit but the CIA is said to be claiming that the order came from the top.

In Yemen, a Saudi bombardment has destroyed the country, leaving 10,000 civilians dead and 15million facing what the UN says could be the worst famine the world has known in 100 years.

Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, also vowed to confront Salman over Khashoggi and Yemen, saying she will not avoid speaking with him at the summit.

'In relation to Mr Khashoggi, we want to see a full and transparent investigation of what happened and those responsible being held to account,' she said.

'With the issue of Yemen, we continue to be deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation. The long-term solution for Yemen is a political solution, and we will be encouraging the parties to work for that political solution.'

Mrs May was also using the summit to hold face-to-face bilateral talks with a series of world leaders to talk about the future trade deals that could be struck post-Brexit.

She is set to meet with Australian PM Scott Morrison, Japan's Shinzo Abe, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Canada's PM Justin Trudeau, and was also seen in discussion with Donald Trump.

The mystery surrounding Khashoggi's death did not deter Chinese President Xi Jinping from talking to the Saudi Crown Prince.

The pair met on the sidelines of the G20 summit, although it is unclear what they discussed.

Earlier, Putin used a speech to the summit to denounce Western nations' 'vicious' use of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, election interference and the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia with nerve agent Novichok.

The speech was also a veiled swipe at President Donald Trump, who advocates an 'America First' policy on trade, and who cancelled a meeting with Putin yesterday, in protest at Russia's naval skirmish with Ukraine.

'One cannot help but see a dishonest competition increasingly taking the place of honest dialogue based on equality among states,' Putin told leaders of emerging economies as the summit opened in Buenos Aires.

'A vicious practice of returning to illegal, unilateral sanctions and protectionist measures is spreading, going around the UN Charter, the rules of the WTO and internationally recognized legal norms,' Putin said.

Putin said that the result was 'an extremely negative effect on the spirit of international cooperation,' discouraging business.

The Russian rouble, which is sensitive to events that might lead to new sanctions being imposed on Russia, fell on news of the cancelled meeting between Trump and Putin.

Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for last Sunday's clash at the Kerch Strait through which ships have to pass to reach Ukrainian ports at Berdyansk and Mariupol.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for more Western sanctions on Russia.

Russia was also accused of sending tanks to its border with Ukraine on Friday night.

Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine, released images of what he said were heavy armoured vehicles at a base ten miles from the border.

There was no love lost between Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and bin Salman, however, after Turkey accused the highest levels of Saudi's government of being responsible for Khashoggi's murder in their capital city

Vladimir Putin also did not seem in the mood for talking to Erdogan, despite the two countries forging an ever-closer alliance as they cooperate over Syria

Vladimir Putin used an earlier speech at the G20 to hit out at western sanctions against Russia while also taking a veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump, who cancelled a meeting with him at the last minute

Donald Trump also exchanged a look with Salman after the group picture. The US President has come under pressure to step up his criticisms of Saudi Arabia, but has firmly stood by their business dealings including arms sales

The Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte (right) appears to extend his hand to greet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Putin was not the only one to share a joke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa was seen laughing with the Saudi chief

The closest Trump came to Putin was during the group photograph when the two leaders walked past each-other but did not appear to make eye contact

Putin looks on at Donald Trump, who does not appear to make eye contact with the Russian leader, during the first day of the G20 summit

Leaders from the world's 20 wealthiest countries pose for a group photo as they gather in Buenos Aires for summit on Friday

French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talk among themselves as they group photo is taken

Emmanuel Macron swaps words with a smiling Donald Trump, despite a cooling of their relationship in recent weeks which saw the US President accuse France of taking advantage on trade

Trump did manage to raise a smile from Macron as he was caught making a silly face during the group photo

Donald Trump, China's Xi Jinping and South Korea's Moon Jae-in stand side by side as Moon greets another dignitary, watched by President Mauricio Macri of Argentina (left)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sits near to Chancellor Philip Hammond during a session of the G20 Summit. The Turkish leader is pictured as he was being briefed while Hammond sits alone

Donald Trump sits down for a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires

Leaders gather for a 'Fair And Sustainable Future' meeting during the G20 summit, which is due to finish tomorrow

He said: 'This was happening in September, October, and now. This is the same warehouse where they have their ammunition, the same where they have multi-rocket launch systems.'

He pleaded with the West to come to his country's aid. 'There is no red line for Putin and this is the very strong reason why we should be together, the whole civilised world,' he said.

Highlighting the deep rifts within the G20, European Council President Donald Tusk said the European Union would extend its economic sanctions on Moscow next month.

'Europe is united in its support to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is why I am sure that the EU will roll over the sanctions against Russia in December,' Tusk told a news conference in Argentina.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday said London would push for 'appropriate sanctions' and called on Russia to release the Ukrainian vessels and crew.

The United States and the EU have imposed sanctions on Russia since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea after a pro-Russian leader was toppled in Kiev.

Fighting between Ukraine and Moscow-backed separatists has killed more than 10,000 people. Major fighting ended with a 2015 ceasefire but deadly exchanges of fire are still frequent.

Donald Trump had been due to meet with Vladimir Putin at the summit but abruptly called off the talks, with the White House blaming the detention of Ukrainian sailors in Crimea

Despite smiles during the group photograph, world leaders are reportedly struggling to come to an agreement on a joint statement for the summit, with climate change and World Trade Organization being sticking points

Trump also swapped words with British Prime Minister Theresa May at the summit, days after saying her Brexit deal was 'good for the EU' and might stop America trading with the UK

World leaders and powerful economic figures wave to the cameras during the G20 summit in Buenos Aires

Front, from left, are South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, France's President Emmanuel Macron, and Senegal's President Macky Sall. Center, from left, are European Council's President Donald Tusk and Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Top, from left, are Mark Carney, President Chair of the Financial Stability Board and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim

Theresa May and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri meet during the G20 Summit. The two-day event is being held in the Argentinian capital

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with a dignitary as he makes his way into the summit

Chinese leader Xi Jinping also attended the summit, which took place in the Argentine city of Buenos Aires

US President Donald Trump with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, during a ceremony in which Trump's Senior Advisor Jared Kushner was decorated with the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in Buenos Aires

Despite warming relations between some leaders, the G20 as a whole looked to be heading for a fractious conclusion, with diplomats reporting deep divisions over what language to use on the Paris climate accord and the World Trade Organisation.

Facing the prospect of a no-statement summit, European delegations are trying to create a common front and may come out with their own separate declaration if they cannot get the US or others on board.

European leaders were meeting at the summit venue in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires to stake out common positions on trade, climate and the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

France is seeking to build coalitions on certain issues or 'ad hoc partnerships' to try to salvage the spirit of the G20 even if all countries cannot agree, according to a French official.

The G20 was supposed to focus on issues such as development, infrastructure and investment, but as the gathering officially kicked off, those themes seem like afterthoughts, overshadowed by contentious matters from the US-China trade dispute to the conflict over Ukraine.

European Council president Donald Tusk urged G20 leaders to discuss 'trade wars, the tragic situation in Syria and Yemen and Russian aggression in Ukraine'.

He said the European Union is expected to extend sanctions on Moscow over its 'totally unacceptable' seizure of Ukrainian ships and their crews near Crimea.

'Europe is united in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' Mr Tusk said, calling the standoff 'a cause of great concern'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday morning, is among the leaders involved.

Wives and partners of some of the G20 leaders, including US first lady Melania Trump (third right) and Argentina's first lady Juliana Awada (centre front) also met at the Villa Ocampo museum

First lady Melania Trump and Argentina's first lady Juliana Awada smile during a visit of partners of the Group of 20

Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter and close adviser, was also present at the summit alongside husband Jared Kushner

Leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico met in the morning to sign a trade deal replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement that was struck following months of tough negotiations that analysts say left a bitter taste among the partners.

Mr Trump called the pact known as the USMCA a 'model agreement that changes the trade landscape forever'.

It must still be ratified by politicians in all three countries, and passage in the US could face a tough road in the House of Representatives after Democrats won a majority in November midterm elections.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose six-year term ends on Saturday, said the deal modernises the trade framework, highlights a need for economic integration in North America and protects labour rights and the environment.

Armed vehicles patrolled downtown Buenos Aires during the two days of summit talks

Security forces were kitted out in full protective clothing, including a bullet proof vest and helmet, as the summit talks get underway

Armed guards were also on patrol to ensure the two-day event went smoothly in Buenos Aires

Military police stand ready to clash with demonstrators around G20 Leaders' Summit during a protest against Argentina G20 Leaders' Summit 2018

Protesters lined the streets of Buenos Aires to vent their anger at world leaders. Among some of the targets were Donald Trump and Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro

Trade agreements should 'move along with the economy', Mr Pena Nieto said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Mr Trump to remove tariffs on steel and aluminium, saying they remain a major economic obstacle.

Mr Trump met in the morning with summit host and Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the presidential palace known as the Casa Rosada, or Pink House.

Posing for photos in a gilded salon, Mr Trump spoke about their longtime personal relationship and said they would discuss trade, military purchases and other issues.

Mr Trump was still scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but analysts were not optimistic about prospects for a major breakthrough on the two countries' trade disputes a month before US tariffs on Chinese goods are set to ramp up.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was supposed to get into Buenos Aires early on Friday, but her arrival was delayed when her plane suffered a technical problem and returned to Germany on Thursday night.

Mrs Merkel's office said that she and a small delegation, including the finance minister, took a different government plane to Madrid and then boarded a commercial flight to Buenos Aires.