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Hammond in EU sanctions warning to Russia over MH17 crash Hammond in EU sanctions warning to Russia over MH17 crash
(35 minutes later)
Britain will push to tighten sanctions against Russia unless Moscow's position on the Malaysia Airlines crash changes, the foreign secretary has said.Britain will push to tighten sanctions against Russia unless Moscow's position on the Malaysia Airlines crash changes, the foreign secretary has said.
Philip Hammond said the UK would seek to persuade the EU "to go further in terms of sanctions" before Tuesday's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. Philip Hammond said the UK would seek to persuade the EU "to go further in terms of sanctions" before a meeting of European foreign ministers on Tuesday.
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.
The Russian ambassador to the UK warned sanctions would have a negative effect.The Russian ambassador to the UK warned sanctions would have a negative effect.
'Festering crisis' 'Obfuscation and obstruction'
Ten Britons were among those killed when the plane was downed on Thursday over eastern Ukraine.Ten Britons were among those killed when the plane was downed on Thursday over eastern Ukraine.
Emergency workers at the scene say they have found 196 bodies at the crash site so far. Emergency workers at the scene say they have found 196 bodies at the crash site.
Mr Hammond said the "unavoidable conclusion" was that the plane had been downed by a missile fired from rebel-held territory. Mr Hammond said the "unavoidable conclusion" was that the plane had been downed by a missile fired from rebel-held territory, "almost certainly a missile supplied by the Russians".
"What we're seeing from the Russians is obfuscation and obstruction at the moment," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. Western countries have criticised restrictions imposed by rebels at the crash site, and Mr Hammond urged Moscow to put pressure on them to allow more access.
"The Russians will have probably more information about this incident than anyone... They are saying nothing. "What we're seeing from the Russians is obfuscation and obstruction at the moment..." he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
"What we need is full Russian co-operation; any evidence they control needs to be turned over to the international investigators. They must use their influence to allow international access to the site to secure the evidence and secure respect for the bodies and the possessions of the victims.""What we need is full Russian co-operation; any evidence they control needs to be turned over to the international investigators. They must use their influence to allow international access to the site to secure the evidence and secure respect for the bodies and the possessions of the victims."
He added: "There is one party in the world who can snap his fingers and have this done and that is [Russian President] 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 [Russian President] Vladimir Putin."
Mr Hammond said he would speak to his German counterpart later to discuss tougher sanctions against Russia. Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, tweeted: "Just spoken to [German leader] Chancellor Merkel. Both of us are concerned by limited access to the #MH17 site. Putin must do more."
Prime Minister David Cameron earlier said the UK was not seeking confrontation with President Putin, or suggesting military action. Mr Cameron, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and Australian prime minister Tony Abbott have already agreed to increase pressure at the UN Security Council on Monday for investigators to access the site.
He told the Sunday Times: "Russia can use this moment to find a path out of this festering, dangerous crisis. I hope it will do so. But if that does not happen then we must respond robustly." Germany has so far rejected tougher sanctions against Moscow, but Mr Hammond said he would discuss the issue with his German counterpart later.
Mr Cameron wrote: "We must establish the full facts of what happened. But the growing weight of evidence points to a clear conclusion: That MH17 was blown out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area. He said "some of our European allies have been less enthusiastic" in the past about dealing with Russia over its involvement in Ukraine, adding: "I hope that the shock of this incident will see them now more engaged, more willing to take the actions which are necessary to bring home to the Russians that when you do this kind of thing there are consequences."
"If it is the case, then we must be clear what it means: This is a direct result of Russia destabilising a sovereign state, violating its territorial integrity, backing thuggish militias and training and arming them. We must turn this moment of outrage into a moment of action." The US and EU had already brought in sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the Ukraine crisis - and these were increased shortly before the plane was downed.
He said many European countries seemed reluctant to "face up" to Russia. Tougher sanctions could include further travel bans on individuals or the freezing of assets, said BBC News political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue.
Mr Cameron said "if President Putin does not change his approach on Ukraine, then Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia".
Mr Cameron said Russia must make available to investigators any information it has about the crash as well as halting supplies and training for the rebels.
He added: "We must establish proper long-term relationships between Ukraine and the European Union; between Ukraine and Russia; and, above all, between Russia and the European Union, Nato and the wider West."
Economic sanctions?
The US and EU brought in sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the Ukraine crisis and these were increased shortly before the plane was downed.
BBC News political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Mr Cameron's comments were likely to lead to more pressure for tougher sanctions including travel bans on individuals and the freezing of assets.
But a source did not rule out the idea of economic sanctions, our correspondent said.But a source did not rule out the idea of economic sanctions, our correspondent said.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko said he regretted recent decisions by the US and EU to impose sanctions, saying it could only "encourage the Ukrainian authorities to continue violence". Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko said it would "only encourage the Ukrainian authorities to continue violence".
Six UK air accident investigators have been sent to the region and experts from the Metropolitan Police are due to arrive in Ukraine 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 experts from the Metropolitan Police are due to arrive in Ukraine 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 former RAF search and rescue co-ordinator Stephen Anderson, 44.All 10 British victims believed to have been on board have now been identified. The final victim is understood to be former RAF search and rescue co-ordinator Stephen Anderson, 44.
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.