Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations' leaders and spouses pose for a family photo at Beijing National Aquatics Center
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations' leaders and spouses pose for a family photo at Beijing National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube, in Beijing, November 10, 2014. (Front row L to R) Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang, Angelica Rivera and husband Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana Widodo, U.S. President Barack Obama, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye, Peru's President Ollanta Humala, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha and his wife Naraporn; (Back row L to R) Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Bronagh Key and her husband New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Akie and her husband Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Laureen Harper and her husband Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his wife Lynda May Babao, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, Taiwanese envoy to APEC summit Vincent Siew and his wife Susan Chu. REUTERS/China Daily

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott seemed to have softened his approach towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. His most recent comment regarding the investigation of the crashed flight MH17 was mild compared to his earlier remarks.

Abbott was talking to journalists at the APEC summit in Beijing on Monday, Nov. 10. He appreciated Russia for saying that it would do what it could for bringing the culprits to justice. "Good on Russia for saying that and I'll just be looking for an assurance from the President that what they said then - they meant and what they said then is still what they say now," Abbott said. Latika Bourke from The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that Abbott's comments assertively contrasted what he had said in October. Abbott earlier said that he would "shirtfront" Putin as he would demand an explanation from the Russian president about the death of 28 Australians who were killed due to the crash. He reemphasised his statement at the weekend as he said that he would have "robust" talks with Putin regarding the issue.

Abbott, on the contrary, clarified that the tragedy of MH17 having been gunned down by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine was not on the top of his priority list of points to be discussed. He said that the tragedy was only part of the agenda. He clarified that it was not the biggest part of the agenda either. He said that Australia had plans to discuss "a very important subject" with Russia in Beijing as well as in Brisbane.

Abbott earlier said that he would convey a strong message to the Russian president from the Australians. ABC News quoted him saying that the conversation would be regarding how Australia would expect Russia to be truthful to its promises to provide complete cooperation for the investigation of the MH17 tragedy. Abbott said that Russia owed it to the families of the dead passengers. He said that those Australian on board were "murdered." Abbott said that he would speak for the dead.

Abbott is scheduled to hold meetings with Chinese premier Li Keqiang and U.S. President Barack Obama during the summit to promote regional economic cooperation.

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