David Cameron pushes for MH17 inquiry after Russia blocks UN tribunal

David Cameron suggested a fresh inquiry outside the auspices of the UN could be opened into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane over eastern Ukraine, after Russia blocked a UN security council resolution that would have created a tribunal to prosecute and punish anyone found responsible.

Speaking in Vietnam, the latest leg of his trip to south-east Asia, Cameron responded to the Russian veto of the resolution saying: “I think it is infuriating and completely wrong. Let us not forget: British people died on this flight. Hundreds of people died on this flight.

“We cannot let one country stand in the way of getting to the truth or one country stand in the way of getting justice. If we cannot set up a tribunal through the United Nations route, we will have to look at other ways to make sure this is done.

“As in the case of the Lockerbie disaster, justice must be done.”

The Russians suggested the measure was a biased and politically motivated propaganda move to implicate the Kremlin or the Kremlin-backed Ukrainian separatists in control of eastern Ukraine.

Britain had been expecting the Russian veto and remains convinced the plane was hit by a sophisticated missile and plunged in pieces on to a wheatfield near the Russian border on 17 July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard.

There have been suggestions the missile was fired in the belief it was a military plane.

The plane was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, with the bulk of the passengers from the Netherlands. Four other countries are collaborating with the inquiry: Malaysia, Ukraine, Australia and Belgium.

“We are deeply disappointed,” said the Malaysian transport minister, Liow Tiong Lai, who attended the council session and spoke in support of the resolution before Wednesday’s vote.

“Families of the victims will have to wait even longer,” he told reporters later outside the council chambers. “The perpetrators, wherever they come from, must be held to account.”

Bert Koenders, the Dutch foreign minister, said it “does not come as a complete surprise” that Russia had blocked the resolution. Nonetheless, he said: “I find it incomprehensible that a member of the security council obstructs justice.”

Malaysia introduced the security council resolution, which aimed to enforce accountability for the downing of MH17, as called for in a resolution unanimously adopted by the council four days after the disaster.