World reactions

This tragedy would not have happened if there had been peace in that land, or in any case if military operations in southeastern Ukraine had not been renewed. And without doubt, the government of the territory on which it happened bears responsibility for this frightening tragedy.

VLADIMIR PUTIN

(The plane) apparently has been shot down-shot down, not an accident, blown out of the sky.

JOE BIDEN

If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice. This is a tragic day in what has already been a tragic year for Malaysia.

NAJIB RAZAK, Malaysian prime minister

We all know that there are problems in Ukraine. We also know who is very substantially to blame for those problems, and the idea that Russia can somehow say that none of this had anything to do with them because it happened in Ukrainian air space frankly does not stand up to any serious scrutiny.

TONY ABBOTT

We need to start an independent investigation as quickly as possible. A cease-fire is needed for that, and it's important that those responsible are bought to justice. There are many indications that the plane was shot down, so we have to take things very seriously.

ANGELA MERKEL

(The) tragedy showed again that terrorism is not localized but a world problem. And the external aggression against Ukraine is not just our problem but a threat to European and global security.

PETRO POROSHENKO

Apparently, it's a passenger airliner...truly shot down by the Ukrainian air force.

ALEKSANDER BORODAI, Rebel leader

AP-Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 07/19/2014 page7)