Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine was responsible for the crash of a Malaysian airline carrying 298 people in the strife-torn east of the former Soviet state.
"There is no doubt that the country on whose territory this terrible tragedy happened bears responsibility," Putin was quoted by Ria Novosti news agency as saying yesterday. (Also read: 'If it Disappears, This Is What it Looks Like': Malaysia Airlines Passenger's Tragic Joke)
"This tragedy would not have happened if there was peace in the country, if military operations had not resumed in the south-east of Ukraine," he added.
The Russian leader then said he had ordered military officials to "provide all aid needed to shed light on this criminal act." (Also read: Pro-Russia Rebels Downed Malaysia Airlines Plane: Ukraine)
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, with Kiev charging that it was shot down in a "terrorist" attack.
More than half the passengers, 154, were Dutch nationals, while 27 came from Australia and 23 were Malaysian, an airline official said.
US officials "strongly believe" the airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile but have not identified who fired it.
World leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon quickly called for a full international investigation of the disaster.
"There is no doubt that the country on whose territory this terrible tragedy happened bears responsibility," Putin was quoted by Ria Novosti news agency as saying yesterday. (Also read: 'If it Disappears, This Is What it Looks Like': Malaysia Airlines Passenger's Tragic Joke)
"This tragedy would not have happened if there was peace in the country, if military operations had not resumed in the south-east of Ukraine," he added.
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, with Kiev charging that it was shot down in a "terrorist" attack.
Advertisement
US officials "strongly believe" the airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile but have not identified who fired it.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Around 50 Indians Want To End Employment With Russian Armed Forces: Centre Working With Trump "Would Be Hard" If He Wins, Says Zelensky Ukraine Rushes To Create AI-Enabled War Drones Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV "Atmanirbharta" Cannot Be At Cost Of Nation's Defence: Air Force Vice Chief Meta Content Moderation Vendors Hit By Global Cyber Outage Conspiracy Theories Take Off After Global IT Crash UP Train Services Resume At Gonda Accident Site Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.