Better that Russia attend G20: Abbott

Prime Minister Tony Abbott would like Russian president Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 leaders summit despite continued frustrations over the MH17 disaster.

The suspected downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane by Russian-backed rebels has sparked calls for President Putin to be banned from the Brisbane meeting in November.

But Mr Abbott believes it would be better Russia that attended the high-profile gathering.

"I would like to be in a position for him to continue to attend," he told Fairfax Radio on Thursday, noting it was still four months away.

"There will no doubt be a lot of water flow under the bridge between now and November."