Putin calls for immediate peace in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an immediate peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed, the Kremlin press service said Friday.

"The Russian head of state noted that this tragedy confirmed once again the need for soonest peaceful settlement of the acutest crisis in Ukraine and noted that all details of the air crash should be investigated thoroughly," Xinhua quoted the Kremlin press service as stating.

Putin also offered sincere condolences to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte over the crash.

The president late Thursday blamed Ukraine for the tragedy.

"There's no doubt the responsibility for that terrible tragedy lies on a state over which territory that has happened," Putin said.

He said that the tragedy could have been avoided if Ukraine's eastern regions would be in peace.

Putin ordered the government and the military to do all possible for a thorough investigation into the crash. He said the findings must be revealed to the world.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysia Airlines MH17 passenger plane crashed Thursday near the Russian border, with all the 298 passengers and crew members on board reportedly killed.

The flight had taken off from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.

According to Malaysia Airlines, the identified passengers and crew comprised 154 Dutch, 43 Malaysians, including 15 crew members, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, nine British, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos and one Canadian.

The nationalities of 41 passengers are yet to be determined.