Disaster heightens pressure on Putin over his continued support of rebels

The downing of the Malaysian jet MH17 could have a transformative impact on the crisis in the Ukraine, massively increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his support for anti-government rebels, experts have said.

Already suffering under the impact of sanctions — tightened on Wednesday night by the US and EU — because of its annexation of Crimea, Moscow could be subjected to much more punitive measures if it is shown to be the source of the missiles used to target the civilian airliner.

Although responsibility for the attack has not yet been determined, initial suspicions were pointing at the pro-Russian rebel forces which have established strongholds in the east of Ukraine since the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych by protests earlier this year.