This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/world/europe/putin-calls-for-talks-in-ukraine-and-a-robust-crash-investigation.html

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Putin Calls for Talks in Ukraine and a ‘Robust’ Crash Investigation Putin Calls for Talks in Ukraine and a ‘Robust’ Crash Investigation
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin issued a brief statement overnight Monday saying that Russia would work to ensure that the conflict in eastern Ukraine moves from the battlefield to the negotiating table, and he again said that a robust international investigating team must have secure access to the crash site. He also accused unspecified nations of exploiting the disaster in pursuit of “mercenary political goals.”MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin issued a brief statement overnight Monday saying that Russia would work to ensure that the conflict in eastern Ukraine moves from the battlefield to the negotiating table, and he again said that a robust international investigating team must have secure access to the crash site. He also accused unspecified nations of exploiting the disaster in pursuit of “mercenary political goals.”
The statement posted on the Kremlin website came a day after mounting international criticism and anger against Russia and specifically Mr. Putin for the chaotic, unsecured condition of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash site and what some nations said was the desecration of the victims’ bodies. President Obama and other leaders have accused Mr. Putin of arming and abetting the rebels in their insurgent battle against the Ukrainian government.The statement posted on the Kremlin website came a day after mounting international criticism and anger against Russia and specifically Mr. Putin for the chaotic, unsecured condition of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash site and what some nations said was the desecration of the victims’ bodies. President Obama and other leaders have accused Mr. Putin of arming and abetting the rebels in their insurgent battle against the Ukrainian government.
“Russia will do everything it can to shift the conflict in eastern Ukraine from today’s military stage to the stage of discussion at the negotiating table,” Mr. Putin said in video statement posted at 1:40 a.m. on Monday, suggesting it emerged from a late-night discussion.“Russia will do everything it can to shift the conflict in eastern Ukraine from today’s military stage to the stage of discussion at the negotiating table,” Mr. Putin said in video statement posted at 1:40 a.m. on Monday, suggesting it emerged from a late-night discussion.
In eastern Ukraine, clashes continued between rebels and government forces as the recovery effort remained hampered by lack of access to the crash site. Near the train station in Donetsk, artillery fire was heard. A witness said that rebel tanks were in the area, and that Ukrainian forces were firing back. It was unclear exctly where they were firing from. Ukrainian forces have occupied the airport, located nearby, for weeks.
Mr. Putin again endorsed an investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. “It is essential for a robust team of experts to work on the site of the catastrophe under the auspices of I.C.A.O., the relevant international commission,” Mr. Putin said. “Everything must be done to ensure its full and absolute safety and to secure the humanitarian corridors needed for its work.”Mr. Putin again endorsed an investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. “It is essential for a robust team of experts to work on the site of the catastrophe under the auspices of I.C.A.O., the relevant international commission,” Mr. Putin said. “Everything must be done to ensure its full and absolute safety and to secure the humanitarian corridors needed for its work.”
It is unclear whether such an indirect call to allow the investigation to proceed would satisfy the growing chorus of critics who have demanded that Mr. Putin intervene directly with the pro-Russian separatists to end the combination of disorder and threats that have marked the crash site thus far. The United States and Ukraine have both accused Russia of not just supplying the rebels with weapons, but actively training them in the use of antiaircraft missiles, and they accuse the separatists of spiriting the battery used to down the civilian jetliner over the border into Russia just hours after the disaster.It is unclear whether such an indirect call to allow the investigation to proceed would satisfy the growing chorus of critics who have demanded that Mr. Putin intervene directly with the pro-Russian separatists to end the combination of disorder and threats that have marked the crash site thus far. The United States and Ukraine have both accused Russia of not just supplying the rebels with weapons, but actively training them in the use of antiaircraft missiles, and they accuse the separatists of spiriting the battery used to down the civilian jetliner over the border into Russia just hours after the disaster.
Australia dispatched its foreign minister to the United Nations to lead the effort on Monday to get the United Nations Security Council to approve a resolution demanding that pro-Russian separatists grant unrestricted access to the crash site.Australia dispatched its foreign minister to the United Nations to lead the effort on Monday to get the United Nations Security Council to approve a resolution demanding that pro-Russian separatists grant unrestricted access to the crash site.
In addition, European leaders meeting on Tuesday are expected to discuss tougher economic sanctions against Russia, based on the sense that Russia, while publicly supporting an investigation, is secretly trying to thwart it.In addition, European leaders meeting on Tuesday are expected to discuss tougher economic sanctions against Russia, based on the sense that Russia, while publicly supporting an investigation, is secretly trying to thwart it.
From the first, Mr. Putin has blamed Ukraine for the crash and said it was its responsibility to carry out the investigation. Russia’s state-run television has also maintained a steady drumbeat of reports suggesting Ukraine had the means to shoot down the passenger jet, while stopping just short of accusing it of doing so.From the first, Mr. Putin has blamed Ukraine for the crash and said it was its responsibility to carry out the investigation. Russia’s state-run television has also maintained a steady drumbeat of reports suggesting Ukraine had the means to shoot down the passenger jet, while stopping just short of accusing it of doing so.
In his statement released early Monday, Mr. Putin again said that if Ukraine had not abandoned a cease-fire in southeastern Ukraine, the tragedy would not have happened, and he accused others of trying to exploit it for political gains.In his statement released early Monday, Mr. Putin again said that if Ukraine had not abandoned a cease-fire in southeastern Ukraine, the tragedy would not have happened, and he accused others of trying to exploit it for political gains.
“At the same time no one should, and no one has a right to, use this tragedy for mercenary political goals,” he said in the statement, recorded at one of his residences near Moscow. “Such an event should not divide but unite people.”“At the same time no one should, and no one has a right to, use this tragedy for mercenary political goals,” he said in the statement, recorded at one of his residences near Moscow. “Such an event should not divide but unite people.”
There was no indication that the Kremlin would abandon what Ukraine and Western governments have said is its extensive support for the separatists, and analysts here suggested that Mr. Putin would not unless there was irrefutable evidence that they shot down the plane. Mr. Putin is riding a wave of popular support at home for his robust foreign policy, starting with the annexation of Crimea in March.There was no indication that the Kremlin would abandon what Ukraine and Western governments have said is its extensive support for the separatists, and analysts here suggested that Mr. Putin would not unless there was irrefutable evidence that they shot down the plane. Mr. Putin is riding a wave of popular support at home for his robust foreign policy, starting with the annexation of Crimea in March.
Politicians around the world expressed anger on Sunday at the lack of action by Mr. Putin. The American secretary of state, John Kerry, said he was warning Mr. Putin “for the last time” to stabilize eastern Ukraine and halt the flow of weapons to separatists there. He called their handling of the victims, which the rebels seized from Ukrainian rescue workers, “grotesque.”Politicians around the world expressed anger on Sunday at the lack of action by Mr. Putin. The American secretary of state, John Kerry, said he was warning Mr. Putin “for the last time” to stabilize eastern Ukraine and halt the flow of weapons to separatists there. He called their handling of the victims, which the rebels seized from Ukrainian rescue workers, “grotesque.”
The United States, along with Ukraine, has been the most vocal in accusing Russia of supplying the separatists with the surface-to-air missile believed to have brought down the Malaysia Airlines flight last Thursday, killing all 298 people on board.The United States, along with Ukraine, has been the most vocal in accusing Russia of supplying the separatists with the surface-to-air missile believed to have brought down the Malaysia Airlines flight last Thursday, killing all 298 people on board.
In Australia on Monday, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said attempts to secure the crash sight remained “an absolutely shambolic situation,” wire services reported. “It does look more like a garden cleanup than a forensic investigation,” he said.In Australia on Monday, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said attempts to secure the crash sight remained “an absolutely shambolic situation,” wire services reported. “It does look more like a garden cleanup than a forensic investigation,” he said.
Those remarks came after he said earlier that he had talked to Mr. Putin by telephone and that the Russian leader had “said all the right things” about making sure that the international investigation was able to proceed.Those remarks came after he said earlier that he had talked to Mr. Putin by telephone and that the Russian leader had “said all the right things” about making sure that the international investigation was able to proceed.
Speaking on Sunday on television in Australia, Mr. Abbott summed up what much of the Western world was thinking: “Russian-controlled territory, Russian-backed rebels, quite likely a Russian-supplied weapon, Russia cannot wash its hands of this.”Speaking on Sunday on television in Australia, Mr. Abbott summed up what much of the Western world was thinking: “Russian-controlled territory, Russian-backed rebels, quite likely a Russian-supplied weapon, Russia cannot wash its hands of this.”