Spokesman insists the president is taking part in all scheduled events on Sunday, contradicting media reports

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Russia has denied reports president Vladimir Putin is leaving the G20 early, after pressure from Western nations to withdraw troops from Ukraine and forthright hostility from some leaders, including Canada’s Stephen Harper.

Brisbane’s Courier Mail, which two days ago demanded Putin say “sorry” for the downing of MH17 over Ukraine, reported that Putin would skip a working G20 breakfast and leave Brisbane early for meetings in Moscow.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pesko denied any such plans, saying: “This is wrong. The president is taking part in all events.”

Tony Abbott, after promising to shirtfront Putin over Russia’s alleged role in the downing of the civilian aircraft – in which 38 Australian residents and citizens died – was pictured posing alongside Putin as the men cuddled a pair of koalas.