国际英语新闻:Ukrainian president, Australian parliament leader discuss cooperation on MH17 investigation

KIEV, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko here on Monday met visiting Australian Senate President Stephen Parry to discuss the cooperation between the two countries on the investigation of the MH17 crash, Poroshenko's press service said.

In particular, during the talks, the parties stressed the efficiency of the investigation that is being carried out by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and emphasized the inevitability of punishment for all those involved in the tragedy, said a statement on Ukrainian president's website.

The Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashed in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board died, including 38 Australian citizens and residents.

In Aug. 2014, authorities from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Ukraine, and Malaysia have set up a JIT to conduct a criminal investigation into the crash.

A report published by the JIT in September 2016 concluded that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile fired from a region in eastern Ukraine, controlled by independence-seeking insurgents.

Moscow and the rebel leadership in east Ukraine have denied the allegations, saying that the plane was shot by a missile from the territory controlled by Ukrainian government troops.

In December 2016, JIT said that it has identified about 100 people, who are linked to the crash.

Parry arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for his first official visit to Ukraine ever.