Malaysian Plane Downing: Will It Change Course of Ukraine Conflict?

Ukraine and other nations are calling for an international investigation after a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane was downed in Ukraine, near the Russian border where insurgents have been fighting with support from Russia. The rebels have shot down several Ukrainian military planes in recent weeks. A separatist leader claimed responsibility early on, but backtracked after learning the target was a passenger plane carrying 298 people. If investigators find that Russian equipment was used to target the plane, Europe will be expected to join the United States in imposing tougher sanctions on Russia. International security analysts are doubtful Europe is willing to make the sacrifice because Russia supplies about one third of EU energy and suggest that Germany’s reaction is key. The UN Security Council meets today. Russia can veto action, and its president has already blamed Ukraine for starting the conflict by deposing a corrupt president. It’s unlikely that anyone involved in the conflict intended to shoot down a passenger plane, and the incident demonstrates the danger of supplying angry, untrained insurgents with sophisticated weaponry. – YaleGlobal