Russia-West tensions soar as Putin quits G20 summit

Vladimir Putin's early exit from a G20 summit in Australia after an icy reception from world leaders may further stoke Russia-West tensions and lead to renewed fighting in Ukraine, analysts said.
      
Western leaders piled huge pressure on the Russian strongman at the Group of 20 meeting in Brisbane, with host Tony Abbott calling on Putin to "atone" for the shooting down of Malaysian flight MH17 over rebel-held east Ukraine and Britain's David Cameron branding him a "bully".
      
Analysts said Putin's apparent anger at his treatment by his fellow leaders could worsen the crisis in Ukraine.
      
"If he is leaving irritated, just wait for the fighting in Ukraine to intensify," independent analyst Stanislav Belkovsky told AFP.
      
In eyebrow-raising remarks, Putin, who prides himself on his stamina, cited the "need to sleep" and a long flight home as his reasons for leaving the summit earlier than planned.
      
Despite the baking heat in Brisbane, the chill in the air was unmistakable.
      
Australian tabloid The Courier-Mail demanded apologies from Putin, while Russian media complained that Western leaders went out of their way to ostracise the Russian president.
      
"At the G20 Australian hosts tried to humiliate Vladimir Putin in every way possible," pro-Kremlin magazine Expert said online.
      
Armed with the Forbes magazine title of "the most powerful man in the world" and domestic approval ratings over 80 percent, Putin arrived in Australia with a flotilla of Russian navy vessels in tow.
      
The G20 summit had been expected to be the Russian president's toughest foreign visit since the start of the standoff between the Kremlin and the West over Russia's support...