G20 Brisbane 2014: Summit Fails To Address Bigger, Global Issues Because Of Ukraine Crisis; Russian Official Says His President Shouldn’t Have Left Meeting Early

What was supposed to be meeting convened to address the more complex issues of global economic weakening failed to achieve its mission when member-nations chose to focus on slamming co-member nation Russia over the Ukraine crisis. Although, President Vladimir Putin knew he would be in for a rough ride in this year's G20 meeting, still he chose to show his solidarity to his other global leaders. But emotions ran high enough for him to jilt the meeting. One of his officials back in Russia, however, believed he should have stayed on and finished the show.

Fyodor Lukyanov, head of Russia's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy told The St. Petersburg Times on Sunday Mr Putin should have stayed through the end of the two-day G20 Summit in Australia because his early departure will be taken by the Western leaders as a "sign of stress" and "will inevitably be interpreted as a symbol of defeat." He noted that encounters during closed door meetings are more important "than any of the statements released to the public" because they "radiate" the truth.

The other global member-nations did ensure the Russian leader will feel the indifference. On his arrival, Mr Putin was received by just Australia's deputy defense minister. His Chinese and German counterparts, however, were greeted by the higher-ranking Governor General Peter Cosgrove, who serves as Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Australia. "Putin's early exit from Brisbane is a mistake on his part. Regardless of the atmosphere there he should have made it look as though nothing happened and stayed through the end," Lukyanov said.

Mr Putin reportedly tried to maintain civil relations with the other leaders, later offering a handshake with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a private meeting. But Mr Harper refused and told Mr Putin that he feels he isn't obliged to shake hands with the latter but will do so. "I guess I will shake your hand, but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine." Ukraine is not a member of the G20 but its present crisis was undoubtedly the big elephant in the room. And unless this gets resolved, no growth will happen in Europe, according to John Kirton, co-director of the University of Toronto's G20 Research Centre, cited by the Globe and Mail. "You can simply not generate growth in Europe unless you get Russian troops out of Ukraine and get Russia to give the Crimean region back to Ukraine over the next five years."

Undeniably feeling the heat throughout the short two-day meeting, Mr Putin eventually chickened out and announced an early departure from the summit and from Australia as well. His only explanation to his sudden exit was a lack of sleep. When prodded about the treatment he received before boarding his plane bound for Moscow, all he said was that he was "happy with the results and the atmosphere."

In retaliation to this early dismissal, Russia will again be slapped with new sanctions. Although it had complained about the sanctions, stressing only the United Nations has the right to impose them, Russia continues to maintain a strong yet chilly stance, saying Moscow is prepared to wait out a "catastrophic" collapse in oil prices, the Globe and Mail said.