Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday pleaded lack of sleep as he sought to play down speculation that world leaders' frosty reception over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict caused him to leave the two-day G20 summit in Australia early.

Putin, the first world leader to have left the summit, told Russian media that given the 18-hour long flight back home, needed to catch at least "four to five hours" of sleep if he intends to return to work on Monday.

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The Russian president praised the summit's atmosphere as "constructive" and called out the media for its exaggerated reporting on his alleged row with Western leaders.

Putin has long-maintained that Ukraine's intentional economic blockade in the east is a "big mistake."

While Kiev authorities may have cut off its own territories to save on funding, now is not the time nor the case to do so, he said.

World leaders at the G20 lined up last weekend to express condemnation over Russia's stoking of the Ukraine conflict, particularly for its support and arming of separatists in the east, and over its perceived role in the downing of commercial airline flight MH17 which saw the deaths of all its 283 passengers and 15 crew.

Summit host Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott shared he had candid talks with Putin over the issue at the APEC summit in China last week.

While there is an apparent contrast in views with regard to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia's Putin was an invited G20 guest and was awarded courtesy and respect while in Australia, Abbott said.

News reports have cited UK Prime Minister David Cameron as having been "robust" in expressing his views to the Russian leader, while Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had been blunter with a "get out of Ukraine" approach.

Putin has touted of chances for a resolution on the Ukrainian conflict and has denied reports of increased military activity in the region.

Tagsukraine conflict, Russia-Ukraine relations, Russian sanctions, Tony Abbott, david cameron, Stephen Harper, MH17