TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States urged President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's interference in Ukraine before he joins the world's most powerful leaders at the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia in November.

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, said yesterday that Russia needs to take a diplomatic settlement to resolve the conflict so that Ukraine can continue to focus on their economic recovery. If he fails, Lew concurred that Putin would hear direct criticism of the Russian threat to Ukraine's sovereignty.

Australian Ministry of Finance Joe Hockey, confirmed during the weekend that Australia could not make a unilateral decision to ban Putin from the Brisbane leaders' summit, saying a decision had to be made by consensus among G-20 member states.

The Kiev-Moscow crisis became an international issue after the shooting of Malaysia Airlines MH17 over Ukraine airspace last July. Kiev and a number of western countries blamed the pro-Russia rebels for firing a missile at the aircraft. However Russia denies the allegations.

Lew said that the US and the European Union will continue to sanction Russia if they are still disturbing Ukraine's sovereignty through direct or indirect military actions.

GLOBAL POST | THE AUSTRALIAN | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI