BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Although there is no definitive evidence proving insurgents were responsible for the crash of a Malaysian passenger plane in eastern Ukraine that killed 298 people, there is increasing international anger toward Russia.
World leaders, especially those of European nations, have strongly demanded Moscow's full cooperation over the disaster.
The European Union (EU), with many of its member states relying on Russian gas, had been reluctant to take a tough stance against Russia on the crisis in Ukraine as their U.S. ally had. However, the crash of flight MH17, with the loss of their fellow countrymen, has, to a certain extent, changed the EU's attitude toward Russia.
Some European leaders threatened more sanctions against Russia, others warned it was the last chance to cooperate. The EU is now in a position to clash with Russia.
LAST CHANCE FOR PUTIN
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Saturday, during which he urged the Russian president to use his influence to ensure that the investigation team can access the site, do its job and that Dutch bodies can be removed from the crash scene as soon as possible.
More than half the passengers aboard the flight were Dutch nationals and images of recognizably Dutch personal belongings at the crash site have shocked the Dutch public.
"Putin has one last chance to show he is serious about helping," Rutte said, adding that "He must now take responsibility toward the rebels and toward the Netherlands and show the world that he does what we expect: use his influence."
Leaders of Russia and Germany agreed on Saturday that the crash in Ukraine should be investigated by the International Civil Aviation Organization thoroughly and impartially, and that bloodshed must be stopped immediately.
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier urged Moscow to demonstrate it was seriously interested in a solution, as it might now be Russia's last chance.
Like other EU states, Germany is reliant on Russian energy and is more engaged in Russian trade. Although Berlin is reluctant to escalate a confrontation with Moscow, revived since the end of the Cold War, economic leverage is a vital instrument at the moment, analysts said.
TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST MOSCOW
After U.S. President Barack Obama expressed Washington's belief that separatists in eastern Ukraine were to blame for the crash, its EU allies adopted a tougher stance against Russia.
British Prime Minister David Cameron told local media on Sunday that European countries should make their power count when dealing with Ukraine crisis, "yet we sometimes behave as if we need Russia more than Russia needs us."
He said if it was confirmed that the MH17 flight was downed by pro-Russian separatists, then Moscow should be held accountable. Earlier, it was confirmed that 10 British nationals died in the plane crash on Thursday.
Cameron called for tougher European action against Moscow. He said if Putin did not change his approach on Ukraine, then Europe and the West must fundamentally change their approach to Russia.
On Saturday, the British prime minister had also raised the prospect of fresh EU sanctions against Russia over the Malaysian plane crash.
It seems that the international pressure to impose further sanctions on Moscow would be unavoidable. Putin has always kept himself as a good tactician and won a higher domestic support when dealing with the Ukraine crisis, but tensions between Russia and the West, especially with the EU, is an obstacle to Russia's future.
During the telephone conversation with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, Putin agreed on the main point that it was important to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into all circumstances of the accident now.
Going beyond the crash, how to mend relations between Russia and the EU remains another major issue.
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