(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
International pressure on Russia to give unfettered access to the downed Malaysian airline plane in the Ukraine appears to have had an immediate and positive result.
The United Nations Security Council - including Russia - has unanimously endorsed Australia's resolution demanding international investigators have full and unrestricted access to the site.
The resolutions also demanded Russia use its influence over Ukraine's pro-Russian separatists.
Less than ten hours later the separatists have handed over two flight data recorders recovered from the crash site to Malaysian officials.
And a ceasefire's been declared within a 10 kilometre radius of the crash site to allow international investigators safe access.
But, as Amanda Cavill reports, the political fallout for Russia may be difficult to contain particularly in relation to Russia's continuing relationship with the rebels.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Foreign Minister Julia Bishop has applauded the UN Security Council vote as an unambiguous response from the international community to an utterly deplorable act.
Already the remains of the victims of the MH17 crash have been moved to a Ukrainian-government controlled city in the north, from which they will be flown to Holland for identification.
Malaysian officials are accompanying a refrigerated train transporting the bodies to the town of Kharkiv, controlled by the government in Kiev.
Flight data recorders have also been handed over to Malaysian officials, and international investigators have been given safe access to the site.
And now international pressure is growing on Russian President Vladimir Putin to distance himself from the separatists.
Ukraine's ambassador the the United Nations Yuryi Sergeyev, says Russia's continued support for the separatists must be seen as support for terrorism.
"The so called Luhansk and Donetsk republic must be recognised as terrorist organisations not only in Ukraine but also in the whole world. Cooperation with them must be considered as support for terrorism."
The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, has questioned the role played by Russia in the tragedy and how closely it wants to be allied with the separatists.
"But there is one party from which we have heard too little condemnation and that is Russia. Russia has been outspoken on other matters. Russian officials have publicly insinuated that Ukraine is behind the crash. But if Russia genuinely believed that Ukraine was involved in the shoot-down of flight 17, surely President Putin would have told the separatists, many of whose leaders are from Russia, to guard the evidence at all cost, to maintain a forensically pure, hermetically sealed crime scene."
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans says access is not enough and President Putin needs to act to rein in the separatists.
He says if nothing is done Russia will find itself very alone in the international community.
"What I find mind-boggling is that you would accuse Ukrainians of being responsible, and at the same time you would not act when separatists are doing everything to make an independent inquiry impossible, or more difficult. So I hope that Russia would now feel its responsibility, act upon its responsibility. If it doesn't, it is going to have an increasingly isolated position in the international world."
Already Britain is ramping up the pressure on Russia.
British Prime Minister David Cameron wants the European Union to consider tougher ecÀFonomic sanctions against Russia.
Before the aircraft was shot down, European leaders had already agreed to sanction some Russian companies and block new loans to Russia by multilateral lenders.
Mr Cameron says Russia can't expect access to European markets while Vladimir Putin fuels conflict in Ukraine.
"I hope that he will use this moment to find a path out of this festering and dangerous crisis by ending Russia's support for the separatists. But if he does not change his approach to Ukraine in this way, then Europe and the west must fundamentally change our approach to Russia."
Julie Bishop says the message for President Putin is clear.
"Mr President the message coming from this Council to those who were responsible for this atrocity is definitive. You will be held to account for your actions."
Although Russia has said it will support a full and forensic investigation, it has made no comment about its future relationship with the separatists.
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