Editing Vladimir Putin (section)

=== Australia and the South Pacific ===
{{See also|Australia–Russia relations}}

In September 2007, Putin visited Indonesia, the first Russian leader to do so in over 50 years.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url = http://brtsis.com/rrubb.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012181540/http://brtsis.com/rrubb.htm |archive-date = 12 October 2007 |title = Russia Courts Indonesia |publisher = Brtsis.com |date = 12 October 2007 |access-date = 24 September 2011 }}</ref> In the same month, Putin also attended the [[APEC]] meeting [[APEC Australia 2007|held in Sydney, Australia]], where he met with Prime Minister [[John Howard]] and signed a uranium trade deal for Australia to sell uranium to Russia. This was the first visit by a Russian president to Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last = Coorey |first = Phillip |title = Putin and Howard Sign Uranium Deal |url = https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/putin-and-howard-sign-uranium-deal/2007/09/07/1188783452227.html |work =[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date = 7 September 2007 |access-date = 14 October 2014 }}</ref> Putin again visited Australia for [[2014 G20 Brisbane summit]]. The [[Abbott government]] denounced Putin's use of military force in Ukraine in 2014 as "bullying" and "utterly unacceptable".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/tony-abbott-condemns-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-as-bullying Tony Abbott condemns Russian 'invasion of Ukraine' as bullying]; ''The Guardian''; 29 August 2014</ref>

Amid calls to ban Putin from attending the 2014 G20 Summit, Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] said he would "shirtfront" (challenge) the Russian leader over the [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17|shooting down of MH17]] by Russian-backed rebels, which had killed 38 Australians.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-11/abbott-and-putin-meet-to-discuss-mh17-at-apec-summit/5883592?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment Tony Abbott discusses MH17 with Vladimir Putin at APEC; Kremlin says Russian president was not 'shirtfronted']; Australian Broadcasting Corporation; 12 November 2014</ref> Putin denied responsibility for the killings.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/450ba5218bf24c6a9d5052cc346cbc4a The Latest: Putin denies Russia responsible for MH17 downing]; apnews.com; 26 May 2014</ref>

Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022, Australian prime minister [[Scott Morrison]] said the invasion was "unprovoked, unjust and illegal" and labeled Putin a "thug".<ref>[https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/prime-minister-scott-morrison-calls-vladimir-putin-a-thug-for-unacceptable-ukraine-invasion/news-story/235201764a6d7a155afe1b48711a5e0f China called out for easing trading restrictions with Russia]; news.com.au; 25 February 2022</ref> New Zealand Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]] denounced Putin as a "bully".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Michael|last=Neilson|date=1 March 2022 |title=Parliament condemns 'bully' Putin; PM, Luxon face off on living costs |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/russia-invasion-of-ukraine-nz-parliament-condemns-bully-putin-luxon-and-ardern-face-off-on-living-costs/PMKURVCST7KMRUOFFVDLEJOOAA/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Fijian prime minister [[Frank Bainimarama]] tweeted, "Fiji and our fellow Pacific Island Countries have united as nations of peace-loving people to condemn the conflict in Ukraine", while the Solomon Islands UN ambassador called the invasion a "violation of the rule of law".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Singh |first=Indra |date=3 March 2022 |title=Pacific condemns Russia-Ukraine conflict says PM |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/pacific-condemns-russia-ukraine-conflict-says-pm/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Fiji Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>