Some minor updates within this newsroom writeup of Moscow's reaction to Dutch findings that more clearly blame a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air rocket for the tragedy that killed 298 innocents over eastern Ukraine in July.
Lavrov Calls For 'Unbiased' MH17 Probe After Dutch TV Claims
From our newsroom:
The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are meeting in Kazakhstan today and discussions will include Ukraine.
The meeting in Astana was originally scheduled for March 12 and 13, but Russian President Vladimir Putin pulled out at the last minute, sparking rumors, denied by the Kremlin, over his health.
His cancellation also came with Putin strangely absent from the public spotlight.
According to TASS, Putin, Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev will discuss prospects for greater economic cooperation, the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, among other issues, including the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Putin's return on March 16 coincided with the start of a week of Russian celebrations marking the one year anniversary of Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Based on reporting by TASS and Reuters
We are now closing the live blog for today. Until we resume tomorrow, you can keep up with all our ongoing news coverage of Ukraine here.