President Putin ‘shirtfronted’ by Canadian Prime Minister; Plans to leave G20 Summit Early

By Staff Reporter - 15 Nov '14 07:29AM

The G 20 Summit leaders gathered in Brisbane, Australia, have apparently decided to confront Vladimir Putin on his stance on Ukraine.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tony Abbot of Australia had said he would shirtfront President Putting on his support of the anti- Ukrainian insurgents but it seems Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada has decided to take up the matter instead.

According to reports, at a greet and meet session, the Russian president approached Prime Minister Harper with an outstretched hand and the Canadian prime minister was a little slow in extending his hand. It seems he barely finished his greeting and brought up the Russian stance on Ukraine.

"Well I guess I'll shake your hand, but I only have one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine," Harper said, according to his spokesman Jason MacDonald, reports the Guardian.

Australian Prime Minister Abbott had previously promised to "shirtfront" Putin over the Russian military's alleged involvement in the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, in which 38 Australian citizens died.

But, maybe playing the host at the Summit curtailed his aggressive stance. Prime Minister Harper, who is an obsessive fan of ice hockey, a very combative sport, had no such hesitation.

Pressure continues to mount on Putin at the G20 over Russia's interference in Ukraine.

The European Union president, Herman van Rompuy, said Europe would consider further sanctions on Russia, beyond the financial, economic and travel sanctions already in place, reports the Guardian

Obama also said that the United States was "opposed to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is a threat to the world, as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH17", reports Reuters.

Apparently this aggressive stance from the G20 members has forced President Putin to leave the Summit a little early. A member of his delegation said that Putin will leave early Sunday and not attend the sessions planned later, reports Reuters.