Relatives of MH17 victims want Russia to recognize plane crash role before a peace deal

A credible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is hard to achieve without Russia recognizing its responsibility for taking down the MH17 flight, relatives of the victims of the plane crash have said. They also expressed their thoughts regarding this in a letter to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Chairwoman of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, a few parliamentary commissions, and Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, also received this letter from the relatives.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Eastern Ukraine by Russian backed forces on July 17, 2014. all 298 people, including 196 from the Netherlands, that were onboard passed away due to crash. Two Russian men and an Ukranian separatist were found guilty of murdering the 298 victims by a Dutch court on November 17, 2022.

In the letter, the relatives describe several demands that they think should be a part of an eventual peace arrangement. In addition to Russia’s recognition of its role in the plane crash, they also want “concrete actions that show responsibility,” like formal apologies, a public investigation into all the people involved and the reasons behind the downing of the plane, and suitable damage compensation.

The relatives emphasized in the letter that the continuous refusal from Russia to “recognize this crime” has brought them “more pain and suffering, which increases the already unbearable suffering of our loss.”

They think that recognition is “not only essential for our recovery but also for the recovery of justice and the prevention of these types of incidents reoccurring in the future.”

“We trust that you will plead for justice and ensure that our votes are heard and respected,” the relatives said at the end of the letter. A spokesperson stated that none of the parties contacted have responded to the appeal, but that the relatives are not concerned about this for the time being because the letters were sent recently.