Russian President Vladimir Putin called for peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible after a Malaysian flight crash that killed all the 298 people aboard, the Kremlin press service said Friday.

"The Russian head of state noted that this tragedy confirmed once again the need for soonest peaceful settlement of the acutest crisis in Ukraine and noted that all details of the air crash should be investigated thoroughly and unbiasedly," the Kremlin press service said.

Putin also offered sincere condolences to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte over the crash. Among the 283 passengers aboard the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, 154 were Dutch citizens.

The president late Thursday blamed Ukraine for the tragedy. "There's no doubt the responsibility for that terrible tragedy lays on a state over which territory that has happened," Putin said.

He said the tragedy could have been avoided should Ukraine's eastern regions be in peace.

Putin ordered the government and the military to do all possible for thorough investigation into the crash. He said the findings must be revealed to the world.

MH17 was reportedly shot down by a missile when flying over eastern Ukraine en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

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