John Key on confronting Vladimir Putin: 'He didn't say much'

Russian President Vladimir Putin yawns at the start of the plenary session at the G20 Summit in Brisbane. Photo / AP

Prime Minister John Key joined the chorus of voices condemning Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the G20 in Brisbane, although he was not quite as blunt as leaders such as Canada's Stephen Harper.

Image 1 of 14: US president Barack Obama, centre, with European leaders discussing transatlantic trade and the situation in Ukraine. Photo / AP

Mr Key was seated two away from Putin during the G20 Summit and said he had taken the opportunity to lean across during the working dinner.

Mr Key said the conversation was largely an exchange of pleasantries but Mr Key had raised the issue of the downed Malaysian Airlines flight and concerns about lack of access to the site to allow investigators to determine what had happened and who was responsible. He had reminded Mr Putin two New Zealanders were killed in that.

"I just said we are deeply concerned about the situation, we are very unhappy about the fact blame can't be formally apportioned and therefore responsibility taken. The advice we've had is that it's not possible to do that because it's not possible to access the site due to the ongoing conflict."

He said Russia had rejected that and asked what Mr Putin's response was, Mr Key said "He didn't say much."

Putin was centre of attention during the summit as leader after leader spoke out against him and sometimes criticised him to his face in talks on the sidelines. A spokesman for Canada's PM Stephen Harper told CBS that when Mr Putin approached Mr Harper at the leaders' retreat, Mr Harper had responded with: "I guess I'll shake your hand but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine."

Mr Key said he was not surprised that other leaders had expressed their views to Putin so forthrightly during the Summit.

"They've put out very strong statements over the last few months and you wouldn't expect them to turn up to an international event like G20 and then present a different view. That doesn't mean you need to be rude or disrespectful, but you wouldn't change your position."

He denied that New Zealand's lack of sanctions was undermining the message being sent by other Western leaders.