LONDON
U.K. Prime Minister has called for European Union countries to stop selling military equipment to Russia in response to Russian support for Ukrainian separatists.
Cameron told Parliament on Monday that it was time to impose sanctions on arms. “Future military sales, I don’t think, should be going ahead from any country in Europe,” he said. “We’ve already stopped those from Britain.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime already faced fresh sanctions before Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday.
World leaders have said the missile was fired by pro-Russian separatists and have accused Russia of supplying arms to the insurgents and not applying their influence to facilitate an international crash site investigation.
Cameron said that those controlling the crash site should allow bodies to be repatriated and give“uninhibited” access. Cameron said Putin must use his influence to “halt supplies and training for the separatists.”
He added: “Russia cannot expect to continue enjoying access to European markets, European capital, European knowledge and technical expertise while she fuels conflict in one of Europe’s neighbors.”
The prime minister said he had spoken to Putin by telephone and told him there can be “no more bluster or obfuscation.”
"The world is watching"
U.K. and Australia have tabled a resolution to the UN Security Council to be discussed on Monday evening that demands an international investigation.
However, Cameron said: “No one is saying that President Putin intended flight MH17 to be shot down. It is unlikely that even the separatists wanted this to happen.”
He said the root causes of the conflict were “Russia’s attempt to destabilize a sovereign state, violate its territorial integrity and arm and train thuggish militias.”
If Putin does not change his approach to Ukraine, “Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia,” Cameron went on.
Cameron also reaffirmed his support for Israel by condemning Hamas rocket attacks while asking the Israelis to show restraint. At least 541 Palestinians and 22 Israelis have been killed since hostilities began two weeks ago.
“I have been clear throughout this crisis that Israel has the right to defend itself,” he told lawmakers. "Those criticizing Israel’s response must ask themselves how they would expect their own government to react if hundreds of rockets were raining down on British cities today.”
Cameron said he was urging Hamas to “engage” with the ceasefire proposals put forward by Egypt.
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