Malaysia PM Discusses MH17 Downing with Russia's Putin in Moscow

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim raised the issue of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an official visit to Russia, following a UN aviation agency's report blaming Moscow for the 2014 tragedy. Putin expressed condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the need for a thorough, independent, and non-politicized investigation, stating that Russia is willing to cooperate with any organization it deems independent. Anwar stressed Malaysia's commitment to seeking accountability and a just resolution for the families affected. The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization found Russia responsible for the incident, which involved a Russian-made missile shooting down the plane over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 onboard, including 43 Malaysians and 196 Dutch citizens. Moscow has rejected the UN report as biased and insisted on an independent investigation, while Dutch prosecutors have accused Russia of attempting to sabotage inquiries and convicted individuals linked to the attack. Anwar's discussions with Putin aimed to encourage cooperation and credibility in future investigations amid ongoing international calls for Russian accountability.