Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board.&nbsp;

Dismissing the allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "could not accept" the results of the probe that the nation was involved. Peskov also said that the investigators had not publicly presented evidence to support their claims.&nbsp;

A total of 298 passengers and crew members were killed when MH17 was shot down while flying over eastern Ukraine from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The incident took place at a time when the Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control over the eastern Donbas region.

The prosecutors cited intercepted phone calls but noted that there wasn't conclusive evidence that would link the direct involvement of Putin or other Russian officials. Hence, they couldn't pursue a criminal conviction and had to halt their probe.&nbsp;

WATCH | Investigators end MH17 downing probe despite 'indications' of Putin's involvement&nbsp;

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Earlier also Russia had denied any direct or indirect involvement in the crash and now Peskov on Thursday dismissed the evidence which had been presented by investigators.

Peskov told reporters: "We know that a recording of a supposed phone call was published...in which not a single word is said about weapons. Even assuming that this conversation is real...there is not one word about weapons. Nobody has published anything else, so it's impossible to say anything."&nbsp;

Peskov was asked specifically about the claim that Putin approved the delivery of BUK missile systems. He replied, "Russia did not take part in this investigation, so we cannot accept these results – especially since no basis for these statements has been made public."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board.

Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board. Dismissing the allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "could not accept" the results of the probe that the nation was involved. Peskov also said that the investigators had not publicly presented evidence to support their claims. A total of 298 passengers and crew members were killed when MH17 was shot down while flying over eastern Ukraine from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The incident took place at a time when the Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control over the eastern Donbas region. The prosecutors cited intercepted phone calls but noted that there wasn't conclusive evidence that would link the direct involvement of Putin or other Russian officials. Hence, they couldn't pursue a criminal conviction and had to halt their probe. WATCH | Investigators end MH17 downing probe despite 'indications' of Putin's involvement × Earlier also Russia had denied any direct or indirect involvement in the crash and now Peskov on Thursday dismissed the evidence which had been presented by investigators. Peskov told reporters: "We know that a recording of a supposed phone call was published...in which not a single word is said about weapons. Even assuming that this conversation is real...there is not one word about weapons. Nobody has published anything else, so it's impossible to say anything." Peskov was asked specifically about the claim that Putin approved the delivery of BUK missile systems. He replied, "Russia did not take part in this investigation, so we cannot accept these results – especially since no basis for these statements has been made public." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia rejects prosecutors’ claim that Vladimir Putin was involved in MH17 downing

A court in Ukraine on Thursday released from pre-trial detention a man suspected of involvement in the downing of flight MH17, amid speculation he might be used in a prisoner swap with Russia.

Ukraine captured Vladimir Tsemakh, accused of fighting for pro-Russian separatists, in June, but he is believed to be a person of interest in the downing of MH17.&nbsp;

European lawmakers described him as a "key suspect" and asked Kyiv to make him available for testimony in the probe.

An AFP journalist was present as appellate court judge Yury Sliva in Kyiv ruled to release Tsemakh, cautioning him to remain available for questioning and not attempt to flee.

Tsemakh is a Ukrainian who is believed to have been in charge of air defence in the forces of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic near Snizhne in eastern Ukraine.

This is where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 came down in 2014, killing 298 people, most of them Dutch citizens.

Through his involvement in MH17 has never been confirmed by Ukraine, 40 European lawmakers on Wednesday asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to make sure he is available to be questioned by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team.

Russian and Ukrainian media have reported that Moscow is demanding that Tsemakh be handed over to Russia as part of an expected prisoner swap between the two countries.&nbsp;

Several high-profile Ukrainian prisoners are to be released from Russian jails under the swap, but the process had stalled amid reports that some Ukrainians have already been moved to Moscow from their prisons.

Dutch MEP Kati Piri said demanding the exchange of Tsemakh is a "strange request" which "suggests that the Russian government wants to prevent this suspect from appearing in court".

A Ukrainian source close to the talks told AFP that the exchange will happen "soon," possibly this week, but refused to comment on whether Tsemakh is among the individuals prepared for the swap.

The MH17 Boeing jet en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by a BUK anti-aircraft missile.&nbsp;

Dutch investigators say the projectile originated from the Russian military's 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade after it was transported to Snizhne from Russia's south-west Kursk region.

Tsemakh's release provoked criticism in Ukraine, with some predicting there would be consequences for the attempts by Ukraine's new president to build relations with the European Union.

"Ukraine is becoming a de facto co-conspirator in the MH17 crime," wrote journalist Petro Shuklinov on Facebook.&nbsp;

Some 13,000 people have been killed in Ukraine's conflict with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, which broke out shortly after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.

A court in Ukraine on Thursday released from pre-trial detention a man suspected of involvement in the downing of flight MH17, amid speculation he might be used in a prisoner swap with Russia.

A court in Ukraine on Thursday released from pre-trial detention a man suspected of involvement in the downing of flight MH17, amid speculation he might be used in a prisoner swap with Russia. Ukraine captured Vladimir Tsemakh, accused of fighting for pro-Russian separatists, in June, but he is believed to be a person of interest in the downing of MH17. European lawmakers described him as a "key suspect" and asked Kyiv to make him available for testimony in the probe. An AFP journalist was present as appellate court judge Yury Sliva in Kyiv ruled to release Tsemakh, cautioning him to remain available for questioning and not attempt to flee. Tsemakh is a Ukrainian who is believed to have been in charge of air defence in the forces of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic near Snizhne in eastern Ukraine. This is where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 came down in 2014, killing 298 people, most of them Dutch citizens. Through his involvement in MH17 has never been confirmed by Ukraine, 40 European lawmakers on Wednesday asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to make sure he is available to be questioned by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team. Russian and Ukrainian media have reported that Moscow is demanding that Tsemakh be handed over to Russia as part of an expected prisoner swap between the two countries. Several high-profile Ukrainian prisoners are to be released from Russian jails under the swap, but the process had stalled amid reports that some Ukrainians have already been moved to Moscow from their prisons. Dutch MEP Kati Piri said demanding the exchange of Tsemakh is a "strange request" which "suggests that the Russian government wants to prevent this suspect from appearing in court". A Ukrainian source close to the talks told AFP that the exchange will happen "soon," possibly this week, but refused to comment on whether Tsemakh is among the individuals prepared for the swap. The MH17 Boeing jet en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by a BUK anti-aircraft missile. Dutch investigators say the projectile originated from the Russian military's 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade after it was transported to Snizhne from Russia's south-west Kursk region. Tsemakh's release provoked criticism in Ukraine, with some predicting there would be consequences for the attempts by Ukraine's new president to build relations with the European Union. "Ukraine is becoming a de facto co-conspirator in the MH17 crime," wrote journalist Petro Shuklinov on Facebook. Some 13,000 people have been killed in Ukraine's conflict with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, which broke out shortly after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.

Ukraine court releases MH17 'suspect' pending trial

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the international community had failed to provide any evidence that Moscow was behind the downing of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-russians-1-ukrainian-behind-mh17-flight-crash-over-ukraine-in-2014-investigators-228694">Malaysia Airlines flight MH17</a> in which 298 people died.

"What we've seen as evidence of Russia's guilt absolutely does not suit us. We believe that there is no proof there," Putin told reporters.&nbsp;

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On Wednesday, international investigators charged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-years-after-mh17-downing-airline-conflict-alert-system-remains-patchy-224198">three Russians and a Ukrainian</a> over the downing of the plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said on Thursday that Russia must ensure that those charged with murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 face justice.

"We call upon Russia to... ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice," Pompeo said in a statement.

The authorities have opened criminal proceedings against the suspects behind the crash.

The Dutch-led probe said it was going to prosecute Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinskiy and Oleg Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the international community had failed to provide any evidence that Moscow was behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in which 298 people died.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the international community had failed to provide any evidence that Moscow was behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in which 298 people died. "What we've seen as evidence of Russia's guilt absolutely does not suit us. We believe that there is no proof there," Putin told reporters. On Wednesday, international investigators charged three Russians and a Ukrainian over the downing of the plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said on Thursday that Russia must ensure that those charged with murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 face justice. "We call upon Russia to... ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice," Pompeo said in a statement. The authorities have opened criminal proceedings against the suspects behind the crash. The Dutch-led probe said it was going to prosecute Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinskiy and Oleg Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane.

No proof to link Russia was behind downing of MH17 aircraft: Putin

International investigators are set on Wednesday (June 19) to launch criminal proceedings against suspects in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine nearly five years ago.

Netherlands set to prosecute suspects in MH17 airliner downing