Julie Bishop has revealed the ‘unnerving’ tactics Vladimir Putin employs in his face-to-face encounters.

Ms Bishop met with the Russian President as recently as 2014 while she held the foreign affairs portfolio.

She famously had to “shirt front” Putin over Moscow’s involvement in the shooting down of flight MH17, that killed 38 Australian residents.

Foreign Minister @JulieBishopMP meets with Russian President Putin at #ASEM2014 pic.twitter.com/hEfK15xz0l

— Mike Rann (@Mike_Rann) October 17, 2014

“He’s deeply suspicious and skeptical about the west and its influence,” she told Neil Breen.

“I believe he actually does consider Ukraine as part of Russia.

“But that certainly doesn’t explain why he’s committing such atrocities in the name of Russia against the Ukrainian people.”

Ms Bishop doubts Putin, who she describes as a “precise” person,  has “lost the plot” as some onlookers have guessed.

“The last time I saw him was obviously 2014 and the last time I met with him one-on-one, I didn’t see any evidence of that.

“We should remember he’s actually a trained KGB agent and he’s incredibly focused on the outcome that he’s seeking.

“He’s very calculating, very cool, very considered, he has an ability to look you straight in the eye without blinking.”

Press PLAY below to hear Julie Bishop weigh in on the Ukraine-Russia war