MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin might be expected to hunker down into defense mode as he is besieged by accusations of Russian involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.
Just hours after the crash, Putin laid the groundwork for this approach, saying at a meeting of economic officials that “the tragedy would not have happened” if Ukraine had not resumed its military actions against rebels in late June.
Throughout the eastern Ukraine crisis, now in its fourth month, Putin and his officials have consistently portrayed the conflict as Ukraine’s unprincipled assault on its own citizens, rather than as …read more
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
