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| MH17 crash: UK 'ready' to push for more sanctions on Russia | MH17 crash: UK 'ready' to push for more sanctions on Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Britain and its EU allies will push to tighten sanctions against Russia unless Moscow's position on the Malaysia Airlines crash changes, No 10 has said. | Britain and its EU allies will push to tighten sanctions against Russia unless Moscow's position on the Malaysia Airlines crash changes, No 10 has said. |
| The UK, France and Germany think EU foreign ministers "should be ready" to step up sanctions, a spokesman said. | The UK, France and Germany think EU foreign ministers "should be ready" to step up sanctions, a spokesman said. |
| Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels have accused each other of shooting down the Boeing 777, killing 298 passengers. | Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels have accused each other of shooting down the Boeing 777, killing 298 passengers. |
| Russia's UK ambassador said sanctions would "encourage the Ukrainian authorities to continue violence". | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron is also due to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin later, Downing Street said. | Prime Minister David Cameron is also due to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin later, Downing Street said. |
| President Putin and the people around him could be targeted by broadened sanctions, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. | President Putin and the people around him could be targeted by broadened sanctions, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. |
| 'Obfuscation and obstruction' | 'Obfuscation and obstruction' |
| Ten Britons were among those killed when the Malaysian plane was downed on Thursday over eastern Ukraine. | Ten Britons were among those killed when the Malaysian plane was downed on Thursday over eastern Ukraine. |
| At least 196 bodies have now been loaded onto refrigerated trains at the crash site, to be taken to an as yet unknown destination. | At least 196 bodies have now been loaded onto refrigerated trains at the crash site, to be taken to an as yet unknown destination. |
| Mr Hammond said the "unavoidable conclusion" was that the plane had been hit by a missile fired from rebel-held territory, "almost certainly a missile supplied by the Russians". | Mr Hammond said the "unavoidable conclusion" was that the plane had been hit by a missile fired from rebel-held territory, "almost certainly a missile supplied by the Russians". |
| Western countries have criticised pro-Russia rebels for restricting access to the crash site. | Western countries have criticised pro-Russia rebels for restricting access to the crash site. |
| "What we're seeing from the Russians is obfuscation and obstruction at the moment..." the foreign secretary told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. | "What we're seeing from the Russians is obfuscation and obstruction at the moment..." the foreign secretary told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. |
| Mr Hammond urged the Russians to hand any evidence to international investigators and "use their influence to allow international access to the site". | Mr Hammond urged the Russians to hand any evidence to international investigators and "use their influence to allow international access to the site". |
| He added: "There is one party in the world who clearly has the ability to snap his fingers and it would be done and that is Vladimir Putin." | He added: "There is one party in the world who clearly has the ability to snap his fingers and it would be done and that is Vladimir Putin." |
| 'Crony group' | 'Crony group' |
| Downing Street said the prime minister, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed in talks on Sunday that securing access to the crash site and ensuring specialist teams could recover victims should be top priority. | Downing Street said the prime minister, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed in talks on Sunday that securing access to the crash site and ensuring specialist teams could recover victims should be top priority. |
| "They also agreed that the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet on Tuesday [at the Foreign Affairs Council]," a spokesman said. | "They also agreed that the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet on Tuesday [at the Foreign Affairs Council]," a spokesman said. |
| Germany has previously rejected tougher sanctions against Moscow. | Germany has previously rejected tougher sanctions against Moscow. |
| Later Mr Hammond acknowledged any sanctions could hit London's economy, home to much of the £27bn worth of Russian investment in the UK. | Later Mr Hammond acknowledged any sanctions could hit London's economy, home to much of the £27bn worth of Russian investment in the UK. |
| And he insisted Britain could not act alone: "The pain has got to be shared across the European Union." | And he insisted Britain could not act alone: "The pain has got to be shared across the European Union." |
| The US and EU had already brought in sanctions against Russia over its involvement in Ukraine; these were increased shortly before Thursday's disaster. | The US and EU had already brought in sanctions against Russia over its involvement in Ukraine; these were increased shortly before Thursday's disaster. |
| But potential barriers to tougher European-wide economic sanctions are said to include French arms sales to Russia and German gas imports from the country. | But potential barriers to tougher European-wide economic sanctions are said to include French arms sales to Russia and German gas imports from the country. |
| Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4's World This Weekend one option was "broadening the number of individuals who are subject to sanctions to include the so-called crony group around President Putin". | Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4's World This Weekend one option was "broadening the number of individuals who are subject to sanctions to include the so-called crony group around President Putin". |
| Analysis, Theo Leggett, business reporter, BBC News | Analysis, Theo Leggett, business reporter, BBC News |
| The EU is Russia's biggest trading partner, so if it had the will, Brussels could inflict considerable economic damage on Moscow. But Europe would also feel the pain. | The EU is Russia's biggest trading partner, so if it had the will, Brussels could inflict considerable economic damage on Moscow. But Europe would also feel the pain. |
| That's why European sanctions so far have been measured, largely targeting individuals with asset freezes and visa bans. | That's why European sanctions so far have been measured, largely targeting individuals with asset freezes and visa bans. |
| The energy market is crucial. Europe gets about a third of its gas from Russia. If the EU bought less Russian gas, it would certainly harm the country's economy, which is very reliant on sales of natural resources. | The energy market is crucial. Europe gets about a third of its gas from Russia. If the EU bought less Russian gas, it would certainly harm the country's economy, which is very reliant on sales of natural resources. |
| But replacing those supplies would be very difficult in the short term, and expensive. Likewise, there is a risk that Russia could retaliate against sanctions in other areas by restricting gas exports. | But replacing those supplies would be very difficult in the short term, and expensive. Likewise, there is a risk that Russia could retaliate against sanctions in other areas by restricting gas exports. |
| Britain also has a great deal to lose if sanctions are tightened. Russia is a significant buyer of UK exports. Oil giant BP owns 20% of Russian energy firm Rosneft, which also benefits pension funds which have invested in BP. | Britain also has a great deal to lose if sanctions are tightened. Russia is a significant buyer of UK exports. Oil giant BP owns 20% of Russian energy firm Rosneft, which also benefits pension funds which have invested in BP. |
| London is a prime destination for Russian businesses seeking investors and capital, providing lucrative fees for banks, consultants and lawyers, and Russian oligarchs own large chunks of prime London real estate. | London is a prime destination for Russian businesses seeking investors and capital, providing lucrative fees for banks, consultants and lawyers, and Russian oligarchs own large chunks of prime London real estate. |
| Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko said extending sanctions on Moscow would "only encourage the Ukrainian authorities to continue violence". | |
| Mr Yakovenko was summoned to the Foreign Office on Saturday to discuss Russia's response to the crash. | |
| "The Russian ambassador stressed that it is counterproductive for governments to announce their versions of the disaster, as this amounts to putting pressure on the future investigation," the Russian embassy said following the meeting. | |
| Families killed | |
| Six UK air accident investigators have been sent to the region and two Metropolitan Police officers arrived on Sunday to assist with identifying and recovering the bodies of those killed. | Six UK air accident investigators have been sent to the region and two Metropolitan Police officers arrived on Sunday to assist with identifying and recovering the bodies of those killed. |
| All 10 British victims believed to have been on board have now been identified. The final victim is understood to be 44-year-old Stephen Anderson, a drilling technician who worked for Maersk Drilling. | All 10 British victims believed to have been on board have now been identified. The final victim is understood to be 44-year-old Stephen Anderson, a drilling technician who worked for Maersk Drilling. |
| One of the British victims - John Allen, 44 - died alongside his wife Sandra and sons Christopher, Julian and Ian - who are listed in the passenger list as having Dutch nationality - his law firm said. | One of the British victims - John Allen, 44 - died alongside his wife Sandra and sons Christopher, Julian and Ian - who are listed in the passenger list as having Dutch nationality - his law firm said. |
| Fifty-nine-year-old banker Andrew Hoare also died, along with his Dutch wife and their two children, Jasper, 15, and Friso, 12. | Fifty-nine-year-old banker Andrew Hoare also died, along with his Dutch wife and their two children, Jasper, 15, and Friso, 12. |
| The family, who lived in Luxembourg but made frequent visits to England, had been on their way to Malaysia for a holiday. | The family, who lived in Luxembourg but made frequent visits to England, had been on their way to Malaysia for a holiday. |
| His brother Hugo said Somerset-born Mr Hoare was a "devoted family man". | His brother Hugo said Somerset-born Mr Hoare was a "devoted family man". |
| "He's one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. His smile could light up a room," he said. | "He's one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. His smile could light up a room," he said. |
| The families are believed to have died along with Britons Robert Ayley, John Alder, Liam Sweeney, Glenn Thomas, Richard Mayne, Ben Pocock, and Cameron Dalziel, who was born in Zimbabwe but travelling on a British passport. | The families are believed to have died along with Britons Robert Ayley, John Alder, Liam Sweeney, Glenn Thomas, Richard Mayne, Ben Pocock, and Cameron Dalziel, who was born in Zimbabwe but travelling on a British passport. |
| Meanwhile, a Newcastle-based charity, the Percy Hedley Foundation, which has been looking after a child feared to have lost family on MH17, said it had received confirmation this was not the case and the relatives were safe. | Meanwhile, a Newcastle-based charity, the Percy Hedley Foundation, which has been looking after a child feared to have lost family on MH17, said it had received confirmation this was not the case and the relatives were safe. |