FLIGHT MH17 - Russia Hits Australia's Julie Bishop for 'Absurd Statements' About MH17 and Ukraine Crisis

By Reissa Su | August 15, 2014 6:00 PM EST


Russia has slammed Australia's Foreign Minister Julie

Bishop for her "absurd statements" and accusations about

the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and

the Ukraine conflict. 

According to reports, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the Australian government has "completely lost an adequate picture" of what has been happening in Ukraine.

The official statement criticised Australiafor accusing Russia of being behind the MH17 plane crash and the rebellion in Ukraine. Russia said Australia may have been "burdened by their own oversized ambitions." The Russian foreign affairs lashed out at Australia and Bishop for suggesting that the humanitarian convoy to Ukraine may be used as a means for invasion. The ministry said Bishop has gone too far in making "irresponsible innuendos" against Russia.

Speaking with senior U.S. officials including Secretary of State John Kerry on August 12, Bishop said the door remains open to impose more sanctions against Russia. Australia is considering a push to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Brisbane in November.

Bishop remarked if Russia intervenes with Ukraine using the humanitarian crisis, it will be viewed as a "transparent artifice." She had declared Australia will condemn such an act and any other effort of Russia to enter Ukraine.

The Australian foreign affairs ministerwent on to accuse Russia of continuing to supply weapons and personnel to pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine despite the presence of unarmed Australian and Dutch forensic teams in the MH17 crash site. She claimed Russia sent more heavy artillery and armed personnel even while the conflict was going on.

In June, the Australian government has blacklisted 50 Russian entrepreneurs and 11 businesses after Russia's annexation of Crimea in Ukraine.

The relationship between Russia and Australia has become increasingly frayed with tension as the Abbott government called for a UN resolution for an impartial investigation of the MH17 crash. The disaster had brought Australia in the middle of the conflict in Ukraine which has become a political struggle between Russia and the Western countries. 

Source: http://au.ibtimes.com