Labor leader Bill Shorten has declared he would say "nothing" to Vladimir Putin if he met him because Russia doesn't care what Australia thinks.
The prime ministerial hopeful has revealed how he would handle the diplomatic relations with Moscow, which the Coalition government believes had a role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Eastern Ukraine.
298 people were killed in the atrocity, including 38 people who called Australia home.
Speaking at a media conference in Melbourne, Mr Shorten was asked what he would say to Mr Putin if he met him at the G20 in Brisbane this weekend.
"Nothing," Mr Shorten responded.
"Putin has massive popular support in his own country. He I don't think, frankly, cares about what Australia thinks," Mr Shorten added.
"Just to clarify you wouldn't seek to talk to Mr Putin," a journalist asked.
"Not in the first instance," Mr Shorten agreed.
Mr Shorten said Australia's diplomatic efforts would be better focused talking to its allies to pressure Moscow at international forums.
"Talking these matters isn't going to resolve it now directly at APEC or at G20," he said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has backed down from his threat to "shirt front" Mr Putin but has asked the Russian President to apologise and compensate the victims of the tragedy. The pair met on the sidelines of the APEC leaders' summit in Beijing after an initial awkward encounter at the traditional "Family Portrait" of world leaders.
In October, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop held impromptu talks with Mr Putin at a summit in Milan. She secured his assurance that Russia would help investigators regain access to the MH17 crash site.
