Russia is turning out to be a major focus for U.S. President Barack Obama in Brisbane where he is attending the G-20 summit. The U.S. leader is consulting with his European counterparts on the sidelines about a response to Moscow’s reported activities in Ukraine.  

After joining leaders of the 20 major economies for lunch Saturday, President Obama went to the University of Queensland where he got a rock star welcome ahead of what White House officials described as a major foreign policy speech.

He said the United States maintains its leadership role in the Asia Pacific region and – as the world’s only super power – has a unique responsibility that it gladly embraces. He mentioned Russia.

“We’re leading the international community in the fight to destroy the terrorist group ISIL, we’re leading in dealing with Ebola in West Africa and in opposing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – which is a threat to the world as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH17,” said Obama.  

Twenty-seven Australians were among 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over an area of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

President Obama is meeting with European leaders on the sidelines of the G-20 to talk about possible sanctions amid evidence that Russia is sending troops and equipment into Ukraine in violation of a September cease-fire agreement.

In his speech, he also alluded to China’s maritime claims that have caused nations including and Vietnam and the Philippines to feel insecure.

“We believe that nations and peoples have the right to live in security and peace,” said Obama. “That an effective security order for Asia must be based not on spheres of influence, or coercion, or intimidation – where big nations bully the small – but on alliances of mutual security, international law, international norms that are upheld and the peaceful resolution of disputes.”

While trade and economic issues are the central purpose of the G-20 summit, Obama also put the focus on climate change.  On Saturday, he announced the U.S. is contributing $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, to help developing nations address climate change.

G-20 on Saturday issued a statement on Ebola, committing to do what is necessary to – in the words of the statement – “extinguish the outbreak.”  The grouping called on governments that have not yet done so to make financial contributions to fighting the disease.
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