Australia PM: Putin cannot avoid conversation with me over MH17

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will not be able to avoid a "conversation" over the loss of Australian lives in the downing of flight MH17 over Ukraine.

Last month Abbott vowed to "shirtfront" the Russian president at the G-20 summit in Brisbane next week, although Moscow has yet to respond to his request for a bilateral meeting. Shirtfronting is an Australian Rules Football sporting term in which a player charges an opponent.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev responded to the rhetoric by saying Mr Putin was a judo black belt and that "serious politicians should chose their words carefully".

"He won't be able to avoid the conversation, so one way or another we're going to have the bilateral - whether it's in the corridor or in a more formal setting," Abbott told The Australian newspaper. "What I'm seeking is a proper bilateral at the earliest opportunity."