MH17 crash: Evidence must not be tampered with, says Obama

"Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine.  We also know that this is not the first time a plane has been shot down in eastern Ukraine.  Over the last several weeks, Russian-backed separatists have shot down a Ukrainian transport plane and a Ukrainian helicopter, and they claimed responsibility for shooting down a Ukrainian fighter jet. Moreover, we know that these separatists have received a steady flow of support from Russia.  This includes arms and training.  It includes heavy weapons, and it includes anti-aircraft weapons," Obama said in a statement from White House.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, carrying 298 people, was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border, after it was allegedly hit by a missile from the ground by suspected Russian backed rebels in Ukraine.

President Obama noted that this was "a global tragedy -- an Asian airliner was destroyed in European skies, filled with citizens from many countries." And as a result, there now needs to be a credible, international investigation into exactly what happened, he said.

"The U.N. Security Council has endorsed this investigation," the President said, "and we will hold all its members – including Russia – to their word." He then made clear that Russia, pro-Russian separatists, and Ukraine need to "adhere to an immediate cease-fire" in order to facilitate the investigation.

"Evidence must not be tampered with," he said. "Investigators need to access the crash site. And the solemn task of returning those who were lost on board the plane to their loved ones needs to go forward immediately."

"The U.S. is ready to provide any necessary assistance to the investigation and has already offered the support of the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and personnel from these two agencies are already on their way to assist in the investigation."

President Obama said that he will "continue to be in close contact with leaders from around the world" as the U.S. responds to this catastrophe,.

He emphasized that the immediate focus is on "recovering those who were lost, investigating exactly what happened, and putting forward the facts." But more broadly, he made clear that peace and security must be restored in Ukraine:

"For months, we’ve supported a pathway to peace, and the Ukrainian government has reached out to all Ukrainians, put forward a peace plan, and lived up to a cease-fire, despite repeated violations by the separatists -- violations that took the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and personnel.

"Moreover, time and again, Russia has refused to take the concrete steps necessary to deescalate the situation.  I spoke to President Putin yesterday in the wake of additional sanctions that we had imposed.  He said he wasn’t happy with them, and I told him that we have been very clear from the outset that we want Russia to take the path that would result in peace in Ukraine, but so far at least, Russia has failed to take that path," said Obama.

"Instead, it has continued to violate Ukrainian sovereignty and to support violent separatists.  It has also failed to use its influence to press the separatists to abide by a cease-fire.  That’s why, together with our allies, we’ve imposed growing costs on Russia," he said.

"So now is, I think, a somber and appropriate time for all of us to step back and take a hard look at what has happened.  Violence and conflict inevitably lead to unforeseen consequences.  Russia, these separatists, and Ukraine all have the capacity to put an end to the fighting.  Meanwhile, the United States is going to continue to lead efforts within the world community to de-escalate the situation; to stand up for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and to support the people of Ukraine as they courageously work to strengthen their democracy and make their own decisions about how they should move forward," he said.