PM calls other leaders to discuss flight MH17 disaster
The Prime Minister has made a number of calls to other leaders this afternoon (18 July) to discuss the MH17 disaster.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister called the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to discuss the response of the United Nations and to call for strong UN backing for, and independent international support to, the investigation being led by the Ukrainian authorities. They agreed that it is vital that investigators are able to access the crash site as soon as possible to secure any evidence and we welcome their recent statement calling for a full, thorough and independent international investigation.
The Prime Minister then spoke to President Poroshenko who de-briefed him on their latest information on the incident. President Poroshenko explained that they were working hard to get a team of international investigators to the site and welcomed the Prime Minister’s offer of UK support for that team. They also agreed that the UK and Ukrainian authorities should work closely together to recover the bodies of those who lost their lives and to repatriate them.
The Prime Minister has also discussed the tragedy with Prime Minister Najib and Prime Minister Tusk. Both agreed with the Prime Minister that the priority must be an independent, international, credible investigation to establish precisely what has happened, and that the international community must make clear to the Russian separatists who are in control of the local area that safe and unhindered access must be given to the investigation team.
The Prime Minister has asked his National Security Adviser to chair a further meeting this afternoon of officials from across Whitehall, the agencies and the police to update on the situation and the UK response.
Read more about the UK government response to the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster.