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Kerry Says Russia Trained Separatists to Use Antiaircraft Missiles Kerry Says Russia Trained Separatists to Use Antiaircraft Missiles
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that Russia had trained Ukrainian separatists in the operation of SA-11 antiaircraft missiles, the type of system that the United States said was used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine. WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that Russia had trained Ukrainian separatists in the operation of SA-11 antiaircraft missiles, the type of system that the United States said had been used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine.
“We know for certain that the separatists have a proficiency that they’ve gained by training from Russians as to how to use these sophisticated SA-11 systems,” Mr. Kerry said on the CNN program “State of the Union.” “We know they have the system.”“We know for certain that the separatists have a proficiency that they’ve gained by training from Russians as to how to use these sophisticated SA-11 systems,” Mr. Kerry said on the CNN program “State of the Union.” “We know they have the system.”
Scheduled to appear on five network news programs on Sunday, Mr. Kerry laid out a litany of findings that point to Russian involvement in support of the separatists who likely shot down the airliner on Thursday, killing all 298 on board. Scheduled to appear on five network news programs on Sunday, Mr. Kerry laid out a litany of findings that point to Russian involvement in support of the separatists who most likely shot down the airliner on Thursday, killing all 298 on board.
American officials have said in recent days that the SA-11 unit was believed to have been transported to Ukraine from Russia shortly before the plane was downed. And the embassy in Kiev released a statement saying that audio of separatist leaders discussing the the downed airliner that was released by Ukraine security service was authentic. American officials have said in recent days that the SA-11 unit was believed to have been transported to Ukraine from Russia shortly before the plane was downed. And the embassy in Kiev released a statement saying audio of separatist leaders discussing the downed airliner, released by Ukraine’s security service, was authentic.
But Mr. Kerry’s comments constituted the first time that an American official has publicly asserted that the Russians had trained separatists in how to fire such a weapon. But Mr. Kerry’s comments were the first time that an American official publicly asserted that the Russians had trained separatists in how to fire such a weapon.
American officials, who declined to be identified because they were discussing intelligence assessments, said on Sunday that a training area had been set up near the Russian town of Rostov, and the instruction had involved the use of major weapons systems, including tanks and short-range rockets. American officials, who declined to be identified because they were discussing intelligence assessments, said on Sunday that a training area had been set up near the Russian town of Rostov, and that the instruction had involved the use of major weapons systems, including tanks and short-range rockets.
Mr. Kerry, in his multiple television interviews, underscored the need for a full and unbiased investigation, unimpeded by anyone on the ground.Mr. Kerry, in his multiple television interviews, underscored the need for a full and unbiased investigation, unimpeded by anyone on the ground.
On CNN, Mr. Kerry said that the separatists had an SA-11 unit before the Malaysian jet crashed, but he stopped short of saying that Russia had provided the specific missile unit that downed the airliner. On CNN, Mr. Kerry said the separatists had an SA-11 unit before the Malaysian jet crashed, but he stopped short of saying Russia had provided the specific missile unit that downed the airliner.
Asked whether he could speak of Russian “culpability” for the incident, Mr. Kerry said that investigators would have to make such a legalistic determination — but he left no doubt that he thought Russia had enabled the separatists militarily, and he stressed that there has been an infusion of Russian arms to the rebels that includes heavy weapons. Asked whether he could speak of Russian “culpability,” Mr. Kerry said investigators would have to make such a legalistic determination. He left no doubt, however, that he thought Russia had enabled the separatists militarily, and he stressed that there had been an infusion of Russian arms to the rebels that included heavy weapons.
“There was a convoy several weeks ago of about 150 vehicles with armored personnel carriers, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, artillery, all of which crossed over from Russia into the eastern part of Ukraine and was turned over to the separatists,” he said. “There was a convoy several weeks ago, about 150 vehicles with armored personnel carriers, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, artillery, all of which crossed over from Russia into the eastern part of Ukraine and was turned over to the separatists,” he said.
In an appearance on the CBS program “Face the Nation,” Mr. Kerry also referred to a video that the Ukrainians have made public showing an SA-11 unit heading back to Russia after the downing of the plane “with at least one of its missiles missing. “ On the CBS program “Face the Nation,” Mr. Kerry referred to a video that the Ukrainians have made public showing an SA-11 unit heading back to Russia after the downing of the plane with “a missing missile or so.”
“So there’s enormous amount of evidence, even more evidence than I just documented, that points to the involvement of Russia in providing these system, training the people on them,” he said. “So there’s enormous amount of evidence, even more evidence than I just documented, that points to the involvement of Russia in providing these systems, training the people on them,” he said.
Separately, two leading members of Congress called for tougher, more concerted action against Russia.Separately, two leading members of Congress called for tougher, more concerted action against Russia.
“I think the nexus between Russia and the separatists has been established very clearly,” Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who chairs the intelligence committee, said on CNN. “So the issue is, where is Putin? And I would say, Putin, you have to man up,” she said, referring to Vladimir V. Putin, the president of Russia who she said should admit responsibility, even if indirect, for the air disaster. “I think the nexus between Russia and the separatists has been established very clearly,” Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who heads the Intelligence Committee, said on CNN. “So the issue is, where is Putin? And I would say, ‘Putin, you have to man up,'  ” she said, referring to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who she said should admit responsibility, even if indirect, for the air disaster.
Ms. Feinstein, a Democrat, added, “I think the world has to rise up and say, We’ve had enough of this. I think Europe has to come together, I think Germany in particular has to lead, I think we have to continue with sanctions.” Ms. Feinstein, a Democrat, added, “I think the world has to rise up and say, ‘We’ve had enough of this.’ I think Europe has to come together. I think Germany in particular has to lead. I think we have to continue with sanctions.”
Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, called the incident a “game-changer,” adding, “I think Putin is responsible and complicit for what has happened.” Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, called the downing a “game changer,” adding, “I think Putin is responsible and complicit for what happened.”
Mr. McCaul, a Republican, said that while it was important for Europe to tighten its own sanctions, only the United States could bring decisive pressure against Russia.Mr. McCaul, a Republican, said that while it was important for Europe to tighten its own sanctions, only the United States could bring decisive pressure against Russia.