Putin, Abbott discuss MH17 crash probe
November 11, 2014, 4:43 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Beijing [PPIO]

“The main topic discussed by Vladimir Putin and Tony Abbot was the Malaysian airliner crash. The two leaders spoke out for an accelerated investigation into the causes of the tragedy. They noted that it was inadmissible to deny experts access to the crash site,” said a Kremlin statement on Tuesday.

298 people killed when MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July.

“Both the Russian President and the Australian Prime Minister spoke out for stepping up the investigation, while Mr Putin stressed that Russia has been demanding an unbiased, quick and efficient investigation from the start,” it added.

Earlier on Monday, Putin had alleged “various military groups fighting on the side of Ukraine’s official authorities” were responsible for downing of the plane in Ukraine.

“The opposite side is constantly shelling this territory and that does not permit comprehensive working at the site of the crash,” Putin told Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday.

Abbott had said last month that he would use an upcoming G20 leaders summit to confront Putin over the downing of MH17 and threatened to “shirtfront” him, referring to a football term for hitting someone front on and knocking them to the ground.

Tuesday’s meet between Putin and Abbott was, however, cordial but “high-octane”.

“There is a big agenda here and conversations with the Russian president on a very important subject are only part and by no means the biggest part of the agenda that Australia is following here in Beijing and subsequently in Brisbane,” Abbott told reporters on Monday after reaching Beijing.

Putin and Abbott will meet during the G20 Summit in Brisbane next week.

Australia has imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the Ukraine crisis.

TBP