Russia's President Vladmir Putin was seen sharing a hearty laugh and a warm embrace with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday.

The two leaders sat next to each at a meeting of the G20 in Buenos Aires, where they appeared enamoured to see each other.

The love extended into the photo op with world leaders.

The G20 summit in Argentina is the first major international event Prince Mohammed has attended since the murder of the Washington Post columnist, a critic of the crown prince, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

The killing has strained Saudi Arabia’s ties with the West and battered Prince Mohammed's image abroad. Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder.

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