THE Cold War may be technically over but Tony Abbott found out the diplomatic cold shoulder is still well and truly alive.

Arriving noticeably late to the first session of the APEC leaders meeting in Bali yesterday - where 21 world leaders gathered to talk about important matters - Mr Abbott appeared to be snubbed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

APEC'S ONGOING WAR AGAINST FASHION

Although Australian journalists were not invited into the room to witness the arrival of the leaders - pictures only - a government source from the official APEC delegation of another country confirmed off the record to journalists that Mr Putin was less than pleased at Mr Abbott's tardiness and ignored Mr Abbott's presence when he finally turned up to be seated next to him.

"There was no engagement, no acknowledgement, an iron curtain,'' the official told AAP.

A photographer in the travelling media said that the two appeared to be deliberately avoiding each other but noticeable was a sardonic grin on Mr Putin's face.

Another source in the room said Mr Putin appeared to deliberately turned his back on Mr Abbott when he arrived and sat down, before noticing he had the wrong briefing papers in front of him.

Explaining his tardiness to journalists this morning Mr Abbott blamed officials for not alerting him to the start of the meeting.

TONY'S $1300 TRIATHLON SPLURGE

"I was in a discussions with Prime Minister Harper from Canada and we got a message that there was no-one there (at the meeting) and then we got a message that everyone was there and we rushed in there as quickly as we could."

A bilateral meeting with the Russian leader at APEC, appears to have not made it on to the agenda at Bali.

This morning, however, the iron curtain appeared to have been lifted with the two seen sharing a joke together at the Second leaders meeting.

Mr Abbott later emerged from his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and spoke briefly to journalists.

"It was a good meeting…we spoke about a range of subjects as you would expect between two very good friends and allies," he said.

"I assured the Secretary of State that the incoming government was absolutely committed to the US alliance as the bedrock of Australia's security."

But Mr Abbott also stressed the need with Mr Kerry for a deal on a regional free trade agreement through the Trans Pacific Partnership before the end of the year.

"If it can be done it would represent an historic trade breakthrough for our region."

And, he said, it would be a strong driver of future jobs and growth in Australia.

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