Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
- Credit: Prime Minister Mark Rutte / Wikipedia
Politics
Angela Merkel
black boxes
bodies
cooperation
crash
crash site
David Caeron
Donetsk
Malaysia Airlines
Mark Rutte
MH17
pro-Russian separatists
rebels
repatriate the bodies
train
Ukraine
urgency
Vladimir Putin
Monday, 21 July 2014 - 09:12

Share this article:

Dutch PM Rutte speaks with Putin, Merkel

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has granted unrestricted cooperation to make sure that the bodies of the victims who perished in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Ukraine can be repatriated. At issue is the refrigerated train that will be used to transport the bodies. This train has been stuck in an area where pro-Russian separatists are in charge. They have been blocking the train from being able to reach the crash site. On Sunday, Rutte and Putin spoke for the third time. Several other points were also discussed. Putin has promised immediate unrestricted access to the crash site, as well as the issue of the black boxes. These have to be handed over, which Putin is giving his full support, as Rutte says. These black boxes are rumored to be in the hands of the rebels in Donetsk at this moment. Rutte also spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron. According to Rutte, these discussions are meant to contribute to their lead priority, "to put pressure on all parties to get the bodies back."

More like this

Image
Mark Rutte and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the signing of a 10-year security agreement between the Netherlands and Ukraine. 1 March 2024
Netherlands signs 10-year security deal with Ukraine during Dutch PM's Kharkiv visit
Image
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte giving a press conferece ahead of a meeting with Minsiters of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, 3 December 2024
Look for message behind the threats: Rutte on Trump; Expects he'll attend NATO summit
Image
The International Criminal Court in The Hague
Ex-Wagner officer arrives in Netherlands to testify at the ICC about Russian war crimes
Image
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 6, 2025.
Dutch PM: Europe doubts Russia's "dacha attack" accusation, burden of proof on Moscow
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Incoming Heineken chief receives 25 million euro share package
  • New Utrecht Council to push home construction, low-cost housing; Property tax up 15%
  • Wildfire risk rises as heat drives up drought pressure across the Netherlands
  • Man held for armed robbery of bound sex workers near The Hague facing 7 years in prison
  • Life sentence sought for Dutch-Rwandan man over massacre of 3,000 Tutsi in 1994 genocide

Top stories

  • Life sentence sought for Dutch-Rwandan man over massacre of 3,000 Tutsi in 1994 genocide
  • Dutch official joins EU talks with Taliban on return of rejected asylum seekers
  • NS cancelling trains on key routes this week due to heat; Passengers will need water
  • Heineken board taps JDE Peet’s exec. Rafa Oliveira as new CEO
  • More Dutch households can't make ends meet; Over half of young adults struggling

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content