Russia-#Ukraine blame game only fueled by passenger jet crash my take for @dpa_intl http://t.co/VaxBKHLbWp
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) July 18, 2014
Seeing evidence already of Russian businesses putting new projects on hold after last night's tragedy. A line has been crossed
— William Rice (@William_Rice2) July 18, 2014
Our news desk has more info on reports that the OSCE monitoring team are being denied access to parts of the MH17 crash site:
Pro-Russian separatists have prevented monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from fully inspecting the site where a Malaysia Airlines jet crashed.
The Swiss ambassador to the OSCE, whose country holds the organization's current chairmanship, said in Vienna today that the monitors "did not have the freedom of movement they need."
Thomas Greminger said the observers would try again to gain access tomorrow.
The dpa news agency quotes a source close to the OSCE as saying shots were fired in the vicinity but not at a group of 17 monitors.
The OSCE said earlier that about 30 observers and experts arrived by helicopter at the crash site on July 18 after separatists announced they would allow international investigators into the area, which they control.
(dpa, Reuters)
Here's our news desk's wrap on President Obama's comments in Washington:
U.S. President Barack Obama says evidence indicates that a Malaysian airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine.
Speaking in Washington today, he also said the separatists have received a steady flow of arms from Russia, including antiaircraft weapons.
Obama said Ukraine, Russia, and pro-Russian separatists must adhere to an immediate ceasefire and not interfere with an international investigation into causes of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
He also said the "eyes of the world are on eastern Ukraine; We're going to make sure that truth gets out".
The U.S. president said that time and time again Russia has refused to take concrete steps necessary to de-escalate the crisis in eastern Ukraine, and that Russia has continued to violate Ukrainian sovereignty and to support violent separatists.
RFE/RL's multimedia department has issued this video of U.S. President Barack Obama commenting in Washington on the Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine:
The one confirmed US casualty on Flight #MH17 is Quinn Lucas Schansman, a male Dutch-US citizen
— Ali Weinberg (@AliABCNews) July 18, 2014
Our thoughts today are with the family and friends of our Amnesty colleague Tessa, killed in the tragic #MH17 crash. pic.twitter.com/1KiCCdn26q
— Maxim Tucker (@MaxRTucker) July 18, 2014
Obama: "Time and again, Russia has refused to take the concrete steps necessary to de-escalate the situation"
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) July 18, 2014
Sounds like pro-#Russia rebels not letting OSCE team close to the remains of #MH17 #Ukraine
— Thomas Grove (@tggrove) July 18, 2014
.@terbleu apparently a cordon has been set up that they're not allowed to pass to inspect remains #OSCE #HM17
— Thomas Grove (@tggrove) July 18, 2014
President Barack Obama tells a live press conference that "at least one American" was killed in the MH17 crash.