Putin exits testy G-20 summit early, citing desire for sleep

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an early exit from the G-20 summit in Brisbane on Sunday, after being rounded on by Western leaders the day before over alleged meddling in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Moscow was accused of “bullying” by the U.K., and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Putin to “get out of Ukraine” or face further sanctions.

After a series of snubs and criticisms at the summit and during one-on-one meetings with other leaders, Putin exited the summit Sunday, skipping a planned working lunch. He said the decision to leave had nothing to do with tensions over Ukraine; rather, he had a long flight ahead of him and wanted to catch up on sleep.

“We need nine hours to fly from here to Vladivostok and another nine hours from Vladivostok to Moscow,” he said in comments reported by the RIA Novosti news agency. “Then we need to get home and return to work Monday. There’s a need to sleep at least four to five hours.” 

But debate over the Ukraine crisis overshadowed events at the G-20 summit, where nations agreed Sunday to boost flagging global growth, tackle climate change and crack down on tax avoidance.

Several Western nations warned Russia of further sanctions if it did not withdraw troops and weapons from Ukraine.

“I think President Putin can see he is at a crossroads,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron. “If he continues to destabilize Ukraine, there will be further sanctions, further measures. There is a cost to sanctions, but there would be a far greater cost in allowing a frozen conflict on the continent of Europe to be created and maintained.”

Obama said Russia’s isolation was unavoidable. “We would prefer a Russia that is fully integrated with the global economy,” he said at a news conference. “But we are also very firm on the need to uphold core international principles ... You don’t invade other countries or finance proxies and support them in ways that break up a country that has mechanisms for democratic elections.”

Before leaving the G-20 summit, Putin said a solution to the Ukraine crisis was possible but did not elaborate. “Today the situation [in Ukraine] in my view has good chances for resolution, no matter how strange it may sound,” he said.

Russia has denied any involvement in the conflict in Ukraine that has killed more than 4,000 people this year.

But sanctions against Russia aimed at sectors like oil and banking as well as individuals close to Putin are squeezing its economy at a time when falling oil prices are straining the country’s budget and the ruble has plunged on financial markets.

“At this point the sanctions we have in place are biting plenty good,” Obama said after the summit. “We retain the capability, and we have our teams constantly looking at mechanisms in which to turn up additional pressure as necessary.”

Earlier in the day, Obama, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lined up against Russia, vowing to oppose what they called Moscow’s efforts to destabilize eastern Ukraine.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers will meet to consider further steps, including additional sanctions on Russia.

Al Jazeera and wire services