Russian President Vladimir Putin is ignored as he walks past other world leaders at the G20 welcoming.Source: News Corp Australia
POLITICAL pariah Vladimir Putin was last night considering leaving the G20 summit early after receiving the cold shoulder from world leaders.
A spokesman for the Russian delegation said an earlier departure was unconfirmed, but it was “one of the options” following repeated criticism from western leaders.
“He has further obligations, he has tight schedule,” the spokesman said.
He could not confirm if Mr Putin would attend today’s lunch proceedings.
Mr Putin has cut a lonely figure at the G20 summit, despised by protesters rallying against him and holed-up with leaders wanting to punish him.
The black sheep of the G20 family today faces another tense round of meetings with world leaders, who could discuss placing further sanctions on Russia for its strongarm tactics in the Ukraine.
Seating arrangements have so far left Mr Putin on the edge of meetings, far away from Prime Minister Tony Abbott and US President Barack Obama, who has taken a thinly veiled swipe at Russia for being a bully.
Mr Putin appeared friendless as he sat down to lunch at the leaders’ retreat at Queensland’s Parliament House.
And while Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto may be married to soap-opera star Angelica Rivera, the best actors yesterday were Mr Abbott and Mr Putin, who greeted each other like old friends, smiling for the cameras and exchanging quick banter.
Tensions have increased between the pair since Mr Abbott said he would “shirt front’’ Mr Putin over the downing of flight MH17, which killed 38 Australians. On Friday, Mr Abbott accused him of trying to “re-create’’ lost glories of the old Soviet Union.
Before leaving Russia, Mr Putin criticised the G20 for imposing sanctions on his country and local media accused Mr Abbott of leading a conspiracy theory linking the Kremlin to the downing of MH17.
Russia’s official media has claimed MH17 was shot down by a Ukrainian fighter jet.
But US intelligence has found a missile shot down the plane and Russian equipment was provided to Russian-backed rebels to shoot it down.
While Mr Putin was left languishing at the retreat, protesters flocked to King George Square to accuse him of being a “killer’’. The crowd chanted “Vlad go back to Russia’’ and kicked beach balls bearing a photo of Mr Putin’s head.
For most of the day, world leaders directly and indirectly took aim at Mr Putin.
At the University of Queensland, President Barack Obama warned about bullies.
“We see dangers that could undermine ... progress. North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Disputes over territory – remote islands and rocky shoals – threaten to spiral into confrontation,’’ he said.
He said the region’s security must not be based on “coercion or intimidation ... where big nations bully the small, but on alliances for mutual security”.
European Union President Herman von Rompuy hinted leaders could meet on the sidelines to discuss further sanctions against Russia.
“We will continue to use all the diplomatic tools, including sanctions, at our disposal,’’ Mr von Rompuy said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Russia and Ukraine conflict may spark “Cold-War-style’’ divisions.
“The current situation is not sustainable for world peace and the economy,’’ he said.
Mr Putin continued hosting private meetings with world leaders last night at the Hilton Hotel where he is staying.
Following the official function for the leaders at the Gallery of Modern Art, Mr Putin arrived back at the Hilton in his black Mercedes limo, issuing a brief wave from within the car as it passed the gathered crowd.
Only a few minutes behind the German motorcade arrived and Chancellor Angela Merkel was quickly ushered inside the hotel.
British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at the hotel earlier for a pre-dinner talk, staying for about an hour.
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UKRAINIAN flags drenched in “blood” were waved in King George Square as 200 protesters gathered for an anti-Putin rally yesterday.
Protesters labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin an “evil man and murderer who was not welcome in Australia”.
The crowd chanted “Vlad go back to Russia”, waved Ukrainian flags and held banners stating: “Stop Putin your hands on Ukraine”. Beach balls bearing pictures of Mr Putin were kicked around while Ukrainian folk songs were sung.
Funeral music was played as eight protesters lay on the ground draped in the national flags of the victims of Flight MH17, which was alleged to have been shot down over Ukraine by Russian-backed militants. Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisation’s Stefan Romaniw said Mr Putin had learned the Australian phrase “shirt front”, but now needed to learn another.
“Get on your bike Mr Putin, you are not welcome here,” he said.
Mr Romaniw said the rally was to send a message to G20 leaders to further sanction Russia and take a stand against Mr Putin.
Another protester, Irene Stawiski, said their rally would call for the G20 nations for stronger sanctions against Russia.
“(Mr Putin) won’t stop at Ukraine, he wants to re-form the Soviet Union,” she said. “He is an evil man, a murderer not welcome in Australia.’’
A pro-Russia rally took place at South Bank at the same time, organised by RUstralia.
Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper tells Russian President Vladimir Putin to get out of Ukraine
“I guess I’ll shake your hand, but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine.” Canada's Prime Minister
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, was given his marching orders by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, far left. Pic: AFP/Mandel Ngan
VLADIMIR Putin was delivered a blunt message to “get out of Ukraine” in a hostile meeting in Brisbane this morning. But it wasn't by the shirt front-promising Australian Prime Minister who gave the orders.
Instead, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped in to tell the Russian President where to go.
Both Mr Harper’s press secretary and a spokesman for the Russian delegation have confirmed to The Courier-Mail that the exchange took place this morning at a private meeting.
Mr Harper’s director of Communications Jason Macdonald confirmed Mr Harper had delivered the message to Mr Putin after the Russian leader approached him to shake hands at the meeting.
Mr Macdonald confirmed a Canadian media report stating that Mr Harper accepted the gesture, but said: “I guess I’ll shake your hand, but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine.”
