Ukraine war: Australian PM Morrison says allowing Putin at Indonesia G20 summit ‘a step too far’
- Scott Morrison said he had been in ‘direct contact’ with Indonesian President Widodo about the Russian leader’s attendance at the meeting in Bali
- Moscow’s envoy to Jakarta said this week Putin intends to take part in the November summit amid calls for is exclusion from the group
“I think we need to have people in the room that aren’t invading other countries,” he said.
“Russia has invaded Ukraine. This is a violent and aggressive act that shatters the international rule of law,” Morrison told a news conference in Melbourne.
“And the idea of sitting around a table with Vladimir Putin … for me, is a step too far.”
International investigators say it was struck by a surface-to-air missile originally brought from a Russian military base.
“So we know Vladimir Putin’s form when it comes to taking the lives of innocent civilians,” Morrison said.
“I am not shocked by their barbarity. I am not shocked by their arrogance in what they are seeking to impose on Ukraine. And that’s why Australia has been one of the strongest in taking action in relation to Russia.”
The government says Australia has levelled 476 sanctions against Russian individuals and institutions since the invasion began on February 24.