Obama: Missile from eastern Ukraine controlled by separatists shot plane

WASHINGTON - Reuters

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the situation in Ukraine from the White House in Washington, July 18, 2014. REUTERS/Larry Downing

U.S. President Barack Obama said on July 18 that a surface-to-air missile fired from territory that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine was responsible for shooting down a Malaysian passenger plane on Thursday. 

Obama said Russian President Vladimir Putin had the most power to reduce the violence in Ukraine and had not chosen to do so. He said Ukraine separatists had received a steady flow of support from Russia, including anti-aircraft weapons.