Russian president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged to lean on separatist rebels in Ukraine to agree to a transparent inquiry into last week’s deadly air crash, but balanced his small concession to international pressure with a message of defiance and warning to the west.
“We are urged to influence the militia of southeastern [Ukraine]. Of course we will do everything in our power, but that is absolutely not enough,” Mr Putin said at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council.
The president told the group of senior government officials and advisers that Russia would boost its defences, especially in newly annexed Crimea, against Nato and was prepared to counter attempts to weaken Russia’s position worldwide.