KIEV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered his troops not to conduct any military action within a 40km radius of the MH17 crash site.
Although he did not elaborate, it is understood this is to try to ensure a safe zone around the crash site so that anyone who manages to enter the area would have some measure of safety despite the government not being able to agree to a safe corridor with separatists.
Poroshenko said the MH17 tragedy involved three crimes -- the terrorist act of shooting down a civilian aircraft; the way the remains of the victims were handled; and, destruction of evidence and not letting international rescuers and investigators into the area.
Speaking to reporters after signing a condolence book at the Malaysian embassy here, he called on the global community to declare the Donetsk People's Republic an international terrorist organisation, saying it was no more merely a Ukrainian issue.