He once famously pledged to 'shirtfront' Vladimir Putin, and now Tony Abbott is sharing his wisdom with the president of Ukraine.

The former prime minister this week surfaced in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, where he is serving as a member of President Petro Poroshenko's 'international advisory council'.

Just weeks after Mr Abbott said he was focused on being a 'good local MP', he said in a short statement it was an honour to be in Eastern Europe.

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Prime Minister Abbott (fifth from the right) has surfaced in Ukraine as a member of the president's 'international advisory council'. He is joined by a number of big names in East European politics, including the former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius and former Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikoriski

'Also great to see the development of Kiev since I was last here 30 years ago,' the one-time Liberal leader said.

Mr Abbott has spent much of his time overseas following Malcolm Turnbull's coup last September.

Since early December, he has spent time in Japan, Singapore and the United States, where he delivered a speech to the conservative religious group, the Alliance Defending Marriage.

In October, he reflected upon the European refugee crisis and his success in 'stopping the boats' at the Margaret Thatcher Oration in London.

He holidayed in the United Kingdom with his wife, Margie, and stayed at a vacation villa with three of his staff in the south of France.

Mr Abbott is joined on the Ukrainian council by former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius and former Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikoriski, according to the news agency Interfax.

He developed a relationship with President Poroshenko after Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was downed by Russian-backed rebels in July 2014.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott famously pledged to 'shirtfront' Vladimir Putin when he arrived at the G20 meeting in Brisbane in 2014. A 'shirtfront' is a brutal shoulder charge in AFL football

In a statement earlier this month, Mr Abbott said: 'Apart from being a good local MP, my focus is on the election of the Turnbull government'

Outraged by the deaths of 38 Australians on the flight, Mr Abbott famously pledged to 'shirtfront' Mr Putin when he arrived at the G20 in Brisbane.

Social media reaction to Mr Abbott's visit was mixed, with several of his followers wondering what he was doing there.

'Are you going to shirtfront Putin while you're there? You forgot to do it last time you saw him,' one punter said.

'Not sure what this has to do with your electorate,' said another. A third added: 'Very proud of you'.

A spokesman for Mr Abbott was travelling and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.