PRAGUE—Czech Premier today expressed his willingness on supporting tougher sanctions against Russia following the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash, as the European Union seeks to increase pressure on Moscow.
Premier Bohuslav Sobotka said "without Russian military help, without Russian weapons, without Russian instructors, the separatists couldn't work at this level and it wouldn't have come to the tragic conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine."
Mr. Sobotka said his government supports calls for Russia to stop supplying weapons to separatists.
"Without a doubt Russia should unambiguously exert pressure on separatists" who enjoy Moscow's military and political support, he said.
However, on the topic of sanctions, he deferred to higher ups.
"If it comes to moving beyond the second phase of sanctions…to a third phase of sanctions, then the European Council will definitely have to decide, meaning on the level of heads of European states," said Mr. Sobotka.
Mr. Sobotka's remarks come just one day ahead of a summit of the EU's foreign ministers Tuesday in Brussels to coordinate the bloc's position toward Russia.
The Czech stand comes as neighboring Slovakia Monday morning took a harder line against Russia, signaling a shift in the country's relatively balanced approach between the EU and Moscow.
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak
Slovakia has called on Russia to calm the situation in eastern Ukraine and cooperate fully with the investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines 3786.KU 0.00% flight 17.
“We call on Russia to use its influence over the separatists and assist in a credible investigation of this tragic event,” Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said.
The Slovak reaction indicates that even those European officials who were previously cautious about exerting pressure on Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine are now putting aside their concerns over disrupting the European Union’s business ties with Russia.
The latest evidence, released on Sunday by U.S. State Secretary John Kerry, “indicates that [pro-Russian] separatists in south eastern Ukraine are responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airlines aircraft on July 17,” Mr. Lajcak said.
Nearly 300 passengers and crew members, all civilians, were killed in the downing of the Malaysian Airlines jetliner.
Slovakia, one of several eastern European Union states sharing a border with Ukraine, has demanded unrestricted access for international investigators to the area where remnants of the aircraft crashed.
“It is necessary to ensure decent treatment of remains and personal belongings of the victims, as well as provide evidence to investigate the disaster,” Mr. Lajcak said.
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