John Kerry, David Cameron blame Putin, Russia for separatists shooting down Malaysia plane
It was quickly clear Russia supporters were behind the shooting down of Malaysia flight 17 which killed nearly three hundred. Now the world’s governments are all pointing fingers and attempting to place blame: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is leadning the charge to point fingers at Russia.
Malaysia Alrlines plane crash debris field photo/twitter
“We know from intercepts … that those are in fact the voices of separatists,” Kerry told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. “And now we have a video showing a launcher moving back through a particular area there out into Russia with at least one missing missile on it.”
Kerry then accused Russia of backing the separatists.
“This is the moment of truth for Russia. Russia is supporting these separatists. Russia is arming these separatists. Russia is training these separatists. And Russia has not yet done the things necessary in order to try to bring them under control,” he said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron joined the U.S. in blaming Russia in an op-ed in The Sunday Times where he called the plane crash and its aftermath “an outrage made in Moscow.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin fired back with a video statement posted on the Kremlin’s official website early Monday, arguing that his country has been pushing for peace in Ukraine.
“We have repeatedly called on all parties to immediately stop the bloodshed and to sit down at the negotiating table. We can confidently say that if June 28 fighting in eastern Ukraine did not resume, this tragedy most likely would not have happened,” he said. “However, no one should have the right to use this tragedy to achieve selfish political objectives. Such events should not divide but unite people.”
Putin stressed that safety must be guaranteed for international experts investigating the crash.
“We must do everything to ensure their work has full and absolute security (and) ensure necessary humanitarian corridors are provided,” Putin said.
A rebel leader in the Ukraine, Igor Girkin, has been linked to the attacked with social media comments and communications intercepted by global intelligence agencies. More here
