Putin tells Dutch PM MH17 tribunal would be counterproductive

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that establishing an international tribunal to prosecute those behind the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine would be counterproductive.

"Vladimir Putin in detail explained the Russian position regarding the premature and counterproductive nature of an initiative by a number of countries, including the Netherlands, to establish an international tribunal to criminally prosecute individuals responsible for the destruction of the Malaysian airliner," the Kremlin said following phone talks between Putin and Rutte.