Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes part in a presentation with a patient simulator
Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes part in a presentation with a patient simulator during his visit to the trauma centre of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi September 5, 2014. Abbott said he would seal a civil nuclear deal to sell uranium to India on Friday, offering to ramp up supplies of energy to help the emerging Asian giant overcome chronic shortages. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Tanya Plibersek has asked Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to show more restraint while talking about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin, on the other hand, called Abbott's "shirt-front" comment as "unfortunate."

According to the Deputy Labor leader, Abbott should use his words more carefully while talking about Putin. She said that MH17 was to "gravely serious" a matter to be talked about in a casual manner. She said that it the gravity of the issue was not limited only among the friends and families of the 38 Australian victims who had been killed in the incident. She said that everyone felt the loss so it would be important to use "sober" language carefully before talking about it.

The Guardian quoted Plibersek as she was asked by ABC Radio whether "it was a stretch to say she agreed with the Kremlin on anything." "Many Australians will find it difficult to welcome Vladimir Putin to Australia," she replied, "but it's important that we behave in a way that shows how seriously we take this matter and how soberly we expect the Russian government to deal with issues like continuing access to the crash site."

Kremlin, meanwhile, told The Guardian that it would be unlikely that the Russian president would be ready for bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart after such comments. It was said that Putin's office might choose an occasion, "more diplomatic and pleasant," to have any kind of communication with Abbott. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev earlier said that "serious politicians" should show greater resilience in "choosing their words."

The official response from Kremlin came after the Australian PM had been criticised worldwide for his choice of words against Putin. Abbott said that he would "shirt-front" the Russian president on the MH17 shoot-down at the G20 summit. Abbott later changed his words and said that he would hold a "robust conversation" with Putin. Putin's official spokesman Dmitry Peskow told the ABC that it was unfortunate. "We are sorry about these unfortunate statements," 9News quoted Peskow. Peskow also said that the national leaders would exchange views preferably in a more diplomatic way."

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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