MICHAEL HOLMES, WORLD NEWS: Well, Russian president Vladimir Putin is in Italy for a two-day visit. Mr. Putin spent his first day meeting with political leaders in Rome and Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. CNN's Rome bureau chief Gayle Young has details.</s>GAYLE YOUNG, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Vladimir Putin came to Italy to drum up business for Russia's ailing economy, but international politics ended up dominating his agenda. Fresh from intense weekend negotiations with U.S. president Bill Clinton over arms control, Mr. Putin appealed for Europe to form its own missile defense system.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Russia is proposing to Europe and NATO an anti-missile system with equal balance of powers and still provide all of the European countries with 100 percent security as well as to the</s>U.S. YOUNG: Business, politics, also religion - Mr. Putin met with Pope John Paul II, but there was reportedly no talk about papal trips to Russia. The Pope has what's considered a standing invitation to Moscow, but the Russian Orthodox Church opposes any such visit. Mr. Putin's trip to Rome comes right after a weekend summit with President Clinton, where the U.S. leader chided Russia for its sometimes unorthodox business practices. Italy is one of Russia's largest trading partners, and Mr. Putin heads next to Milan in the hopes of cutting some deals with business executives. (on camera): The Russian president may be trying to strengthen his economic and defense ties with Europe right when he's having disagreements with the United States on those very same issues. Gayle Young, CNN, Rome.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Begins Two-Day Trip To Italy