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Perhaps intimidated by Vladimir Putin’s physique or his judo black belt, Prime Minister Abbott has backed away from yesterday’s threats:
Russian President Vladimir Putin may dodge a shirtfront if he visits Australia next month but should expect a “very robust conversation” over the downing of MH17.
…Mr Abbott wouldn’t repeat the aggressive term on Tuesday, but insisted he would hold robust talks with Mr Putin over the “murder” of 38 Australians who died when the Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down over eastern Ukraine.
He also raised doubt about whether Mr Putin would attend the G20, saying that robust conversation would occur “should he come to Australia”.
Bring back the biff!
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About the author
David Llewellyn-Smith is Chief Strategist at the MB Fund and MB Super. David is the founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness and was the founding publisher and global economy editor of The Diplomat, the Asia Pacific's leading geo-politics and economics portal.
He is also a former gold trader and economic commentator at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC and Business Spectator. He is the co-author of The Great Crash of 2008 with Ross Garnaut and was the editor of the second Garnaut Climate Change Review.
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