Russia criticised over Ukraine at G20 summit

US President Barack Obama said this morning that Russia's aggression against Ukraine was "appalling" and a threat to the world.
European nations meanwhile threatened further sanctions against Russia if it did not end the flow of weapons and troops.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brisbane, Mr Obama placed security and climate change at the centre stage of the leaders meeting, overshadowing talks on global economic growth.

Mr Obama said the United States was at the forefront of "opposing Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is a threat to the world, as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH17".
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, also at the G20 summit, said Russia must stop supplying weapons and troops to Ukraine, pressure rebels to accept a ceasefire, or face additional sanctions.
Europe's foreign ministers will meet on Monday to assess the situation in Ukraine and whether further steps including additional sanctions were needed against Russia, he said.
"Russia must stop the inflow of weapons and troops from its territory into Ukraine and Russia must withdraw those already present," Mr Van Rompuy told a news conference.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending the meeting and is almost certain to come under intense diplomatic pressure to change tack on Ukraine.
"I want to restate that the European Union continues to believe that there can only be a political solution to the crisis.
"We will continue to use all diplomatic tools, including sanctions, at our disposal," said Mr Van Rompuy.
Ukraine's pro-Western leaders and NATO have accused Russia of sending soldiers and weapons into eastern regions of Ukraine to help pro-Russian rebels launch a possible new offensive in a war that has killed more than 4,000 people since April.
Russia denied it was involved in a recent escalation of military activity in Ukraine and supported the implementation of the ceasefire agreed in Minsk in September.
"We are not involved," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters at the G20 meeting.
G20 host Australia had hoped that the two-day summit would focus on global economic growth, not security or the environment.
But the comments from Mr Obama and Mr Van Rompuy suggest that security will be the dominant theme.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1115/659634-g20/
15/11/14
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