Abbott says Putin compensating for failing economy with military aggression

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has accused Vladmir Putin of a "regrettable pattern" of military aggression which has culminated in warships off northern Australia.

At a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron today, Mr Abbott linked the decline of Russia's economy with an increase in that nation's assertiveness.

"It is part of a regrettable pattern, whether it's the bullying of Ukraine, whether it’s the increasing Russian military aircraft flying into the airspace of Japan, European countries, or whether it’s the naval task group which is now in the South Pacific, Russia is being much more assertive now than it has been for a very long time," Mr Abbott said.

"Russia would be so much more attractive if it was aspiring to be a superpower for peace, for freedom and prosperity, if it was trying to be a superpower for ideas and for values, instead of trying to recreate the lost glories of tsarism or the old Soviet Union," he said.

"Interestingly, Russia’s economy is declining even as Russia’s assertiveness is increasing."

Mr Abbott and Mr Putin are expected to meet at this weekend's G20 summit, where the issue of the downing of flight MH17 will again be raised.

Mr Abbott said there was a heavy responsibility on Russia to "come clean and atone" for its involvement.

Mr Cameron said continuing sanctions against Russia would be required in response to Russian actions.

"I still hope the Russians will see sense… but if they don’t take that approach … they will be putting themselves in an awkward position in relation to the rest of the world," Mr Cameron said.

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