Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the relationship between his country and the US is at its "lowest point" ahead of his meeting with Joe Biden.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Mr Putin said: "We have a bilateral relationship that has deteriorated to its lowest point in recent years."
The two leaders will meet in the Swiss city of Geneva on 16 June.
Mr Putin described former US president Donald Trump as "an extraordinary individual, talented individual, otherwise he would not have become US president".
He added: "He is a colourful individual. You may like him or not. And, but he didn't come from the US establishment, he had not been part of big time politics before, and some like it some don't like it but that is a fact."
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Mr Putin described Mr Biden, however, as "radically different from Trump because President Biden is a career man".
"He has spent virtually his entire adulthood in politics."
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"That's a different kind of person, and it is my great hope that yes, there are some advantages, some disadvantages, but there will not be any impulse-based movements, on behalf of the sitting US president."
Image:Joe Biden met Vladimir Putin in Moscow in 2011 when he was vice president and Mr Putin was Russian prime minister. Pic: AP
When asked about Mr Biden calling him a killer in an interview in March, Mr Putin said he had heard dozens of similar accusations, adding: "This is not something I worry about in the least."
Mr Biden arrived in the UK late last week and has spent the past few days in Cornwall where he is meeting fellow G7 leaders.
Before the summit, he had said: "We're not seeking conflict with Russia."
"We want a stable and predictable relationship... but I've been clear: The United States will respond in a robust and meaningful way if the Russian government engages in harmful activities."
Mr Putin was asked by NBC about several Russian dissidents who have been killed in suspicious circumstances, including ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned in 2006.
Mr Litvinenko's death is among a number of apparent assassinations that have been blamed on Moscow but Mr Putin dismissed the question as "verbal indigestion", adding that some of those responsible for such deaths are in prison.
See more of the exclusive interview on NBC, MSNBC and NBCNews.com on Monday, as well as here on Sky News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the relationship between his country and the US is at its "lowest point" ahead of his meeting with Joe Biden.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Mr Putin said: "We have a bilateral relationship that has deteriorated to its lowest point in recent years."
The two leaders will meet in the Swiss city of Geneva on 16 June.
Mr Putin described former US president Donald Trump as "an extraordinary individual, talented individual, otherwise he would not have become US president".
He added: "He is a colourful individual. You may like him or not. And, but he didn't come from the US establishment, he had not been part of big time politics before, and some like it some don't like it but that is a fact."
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Mr Putin described Mr Biden, however, as "radically different from Trump because President Biden is a career man".
"He has spent virtually his entire adulthood in politics."
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"That's a different kind of person, and it is my great hope that yes, there are some advantages, some disadvantages, but there will not be any impulse-based movements, on behalf of the sitting US president."
When asked about Mr Biden calling him a killer in an interview in March, Mr Putin said he had heard dozens of such accusations, adding: "This is not something I worry about in the least."
See more of the exclusive interview on NBC, MSNBC and NBCNews.com on Monday, as well as here on Sky News.
THE body of a little girl found in a bag 3,000ft below sea off Tenerife is a missing six-year-old kidnapped by her dad, cops have confirmed.
Olivia Gimeno was identified after carrying out an autopsy on a body found inside a sports bag on the seabed near Port of Guimar, Spain.
Olivia, 6, has been missing for more than a monthCredit: Instagram
Anna, 1, is still missingCredit: Instagram
Gimeno transferred a large sum of money to his bank account before disappearing
Spanish rescuers found the bag tied down to an anchor 1,000m below the surface.
The hunt for the girl's younger sister, Anna, one, is still ongoing after an empty second holdall was discovered nearby.
Beatriz Zimmerman, the anguished mother of the two girls, has been informed of the grisly discovery.
Her ex Tomas Antonio Gimeno, 37, disappeared with the girls on April 27 after failing to return them to their home in Santa Cruz, Tenerife's capital.
A spokesman for Spanish police said: “The body was found by a robot from the search vessel Angeles Alvarino at midday [yesterday] around 1,000 metres below the water some three miles off the Tenerife coast.
“It was inside a sports bag attached to an anchor. Next to it was another empty sports bag.
“The body was taken to dry land for an autopsy. The vessel called Angeles Alvarino is continuing its search.”
Last night, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reacted to the tragic news that investigators may have found her body, tweeting: "I cannot begin to imagine the pain of the mother of little Anna and Olivia, who disappeared in Tenerife, following the terrible news we have just heard.
“I send a hug and my love and that of my whole family, who today show solidarity with Beatriz and her loved ones.”
Olivia beside her younger sister Anna, who were both taken by their father on April 27Credit: Solarpix
A Spanish rescue crew found the bag containing Olivia's body tied to an anchorCredit: Solarpix
Olivia was seen kissing her sister in a video released just before her disappearanceCredit: Solarpix
The child's body was found by a robot from police search vessel Angeles Alvarino, seen here today in Santa Cruz TenerifeCredit: Solarpix
A Guardia Civil spokesman revealed earlier that a child's body had been foundCredit: Solarpix
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has led the messages of condolence to the familyCredit: Solarpix
Jose Manuel Bermudez, the mayor of Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, announced a minute’s silence for Anna and Olivia would be held at midday Friday.
He said: “There are no words to express the terrible desolation I feel.
“From respect at the mother’s pain and with all the caution the terrible news that is reaching us deserves, I want to express to the family all the solidarity of the citizens of Santa Cruz.”
The Canary Islands’ president Angel Victor Torres tweeted: “Weeks hoping to receive hopeful news and today we receive the worst possible, one that freezes our soul, about the little girls from Tenerife, Anna and Olivia.
“Our condolences, encouragement and strength for their mum Beatriz, her family and friends. Canary Islands devastated.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez was among those who shared a video of Olivia and Anna released by their mum as part of a huge social media campaign urging the public for help in finding them.
Tomas Gimeno is accused of kidnapping his daughtersCredit: Newsflash
The girl's mum has shared a letter for her 'two angels'Credit: Gaurdiacivi
The trio disappeared after Gimeno picked them up from school two weeks agoCredit: Instagram
Georgina Rodriguez said in an emotional post to her 24 million Instagram followers shortly after the mystery disappearance: “I want to use my reach on this great social network to make sure this reaches as many people as possible.
“These are two sisters who are being searched for in Spain and abroad. They are called Olivia and Anna and are aged six and one.
“Their mum is seeking maximum publicity for this video to try to find them as soon as possible and bring them home.
“I hope with all my heart that the girls are found safe and well and can hug their mum again soon.”
Local authorities said from the start all theories were being explored, including the possibility the girls were dead, although their loved ones said they were clinging to the hope they were still alive and a reunion with their mum could still take place.
Gimeno took the girls without consent and left Tenerife on a boat which was later found empty off Puertito de Guimar, which is on the east corner of the island just over 10 miles south of Santa Cruz.
Police had been using a boat lent to them by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography to search for clues in the spot where Gimeno’s mobile signal was last detected.
Gimeno had never accepted Beatriz's relationship with a new Belgian partner following their split.
Beatriz said after a diving bottle was found on Monday she thought it was part of an attempt by her estranged partner to disguise his flight with the girls.
South America was highlighted as a place Tomas could have taken them soon after he vanished with the youngsters.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard said on Thursday after finding Olivia's remains: “This afternoon the boat belonging to the Spanish Oceanographic Institute, Angeles Alabrino, which was in Tenerife combing the sea bed following the disappearance on April 27 of Tomas Gimeno with his daughters Anna and Olivia, found human remains.
“Those remains correspond with the body of a minor and were discovered in the search area that had been determined by investigators.
“The remains have been taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Santa Cruz where they will be analysed for the purposes of identification.”
Zimmerman had previously shared a video of her two daughtersCredit: Solarpix
He left Zimmerman a goodbye note before fleeing on a boat
A dozen police officers working at the G7 summit in Cornwall have been forced to self-isolate following a positive Covid-19 test for one of their colleagues, ITV News can reveal.
Worryingly, for G7 security chiefs, the officer who tested positive has been staying on a ferry with 1,000 colleagues.ITV News understands the police officer, whose accommodation was on the ship in Falmouth, had been on duty at the location of the G7 summit in Carbis Bay prior to his positive test.Devon and Cornwall Police told ITV News: “As part of our testing regime, during the early hours of June 11 we have identified one officer who is currently supporting G7 policing and accommodated on the ferry, has given a positive lateral flow test for Covid-19."The officer, plus those who have come into close contact, are currently self-isolating at another designated location."All who have come into close contact or are in the bubble of those who tested positive are also currently self-isolating which equates to 12 officers in total.
"The next stage is for those who have tested positive to undertake a PCR test."We are continuing to follow the advice of Public Health England.”
The 'world leaders' are in St Ives for the G7 Summit. Credit: PA images.
The Pedn Olva hotel said it would "fully close" after discussing the outbreak with Public Health England. It is understood 13 out of around 17 staff are infected. Thousands of police officers have been drafted in from around the UK to provide security at the G7.
Positive tests were not unexpected, but with the main event beginning on Friday and continuing until Sunday the risk of an outbreak impacting the gathering of global leaders is high.Covid security for the summit is extremely tight with police officers having to do a lateral flow test every day and anyone testing positive having to self-isolate.
Lateral flow tests are known to create false positives and although that maybe a possible explanation for these police tests in Cornwall, the results must be treated as being accurate.Positive tests do not equate to an outbreak but there are ongoing concerns about the threat from Covid-19 to the summit.
With thousands of police officers, staff, media and delegates travelling to Cornwall from all over the country, and world leaders and politicians jetting in from around the world the issues created by the pandemic are not just on the agenda but part of everyday life for all those at the G7.
Emmanuel Macron wasted no time after the G7 'family photo' of world leaders took place as he rushed to hug US President Joe Biden. Mr Macron appeared to break Covid protocol by jumping into a conversation with the US President. It is unclear what the pair discussed but Mr Macron could be seen putting his arm around Joe Biden as they walked together.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was also involved in the conversation.
Boris Johnson was walking ahead of the pair, as he held a brief chat with Angela Merkel, who is marking her last G7 as German Chancellor.
The G7 'family photo' was captured ahead of talks at the resort of Carbis Bay in Cornwall, in the southwest of England.
The intimate moment between the French and US leaders sparked immediate reaction online, with observers pointing that Mr Macron and Ms von der Leyen were "getting very close" to Mr Biden.
One person suggested Mr Macron was desperately trying to "monopolize" Mr Biden for a photo op "while other leaders follow behind".
Another viewer tweeted: "Macron was hanging behind after the group photo to stick with Biden for photo op. He managed it in the end!
"I bet - Biden with arm around little man Macron - will be cover photo in French press tomorrow."
White House Bloomberg reporter Josh Wingrove said: "Biden and Macron each had an arm around each other as they walked away after the so-called G7 family photo.
It marks the first face-to-face event of its kind to be held since coronavirus restrictions were put in place.
Following the photograph, Mr Johnson chaired the summit's opening meeting, saying the world should "level up" after the pandemic.
He said the world has been going through "the most wretched pandemic our countries have faced for our lifetimes, maybe longer".
The Prime Minister said it was vital "we don't repeat the mistakes" of the previous financial crisis when the recovery was not "uniform across all parts of society".
He added: "What risks being a lasting scar is I think inequalities may be entrenched."
President Biden announced Thursday evening that the United States plans to donate 500 million Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses globally as part of his efforts to reassert US leadership on the world stage.
"America knows first-hand the tragedy of this pandemic. We've had more people die in the United States than anywhere in the world, nearly 600,000 of our fellow Americans," Biden said in remarks after meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He added, "We know the tragedy. We also know the path to recovery."
The move will also serve to counter efforts by Russia and China to use their own state-funded vaccines to expand their global influence.
During remarks announcing the vaccine purchase, Biden underscored that there were no strings attached with accepting the US-bought vaccines.
'Let me be clear: Just as with the 80 million doses we previously announced, the United States is providing these half-(billion) doses with no strings attached," Biden said. "Our vaccine donations don't include pressure for favors or potential concessions. We're doing this to save lives, to end this pandemic. That's it. Period."
Administration officials suggested the move is part of a broader effort for the world's democracies to lead the way in pandemic recovery. The effort to donate doses is also intended to encourage other US allies to step up.
"We're also using this announcement today to leverage and mobilize larger commitments from the world's democracies, from the G7 and partner countries," a separate senior official said, previewing a "G7 Covid-related multilateral announcement."
At the G7 summit this weekend, the official said, leaders will announce a "collective effort by the world's democracies to beat Covid-19 for once and for all."
Here are other key things to know about the donation:
With regards to the timeline, officials said the Pfizer doses will begin to ship in August and 200 million doses will be delivered by the end of this year.
The remaining 300 million doses will be delivered in the first half of 2022.
They will be manufactured in the US, the officials said, "employing thousands of workers" in states like Michigan, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The cost will be around $1.5 billion, which will come from previously allocated funds in the American Rescue Plan relief package passed earlier this year.
