The Netherlands and Australia will hold Russia legally responsible for “its role” in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

The Dutch government said accusing a country of being at fault for the 2014 air disaster, which left almost 300 people dead, was “a complex legal process”.

But, its cabinet said both the Netherlands and the Australian government wanted answers after crash investigators found the missile that shot down the plane was fired from Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade.

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said that following that conclusion, “the government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable”.

Mr Blok added the Netherlands and Australia have “asked Russia to enter into talks aimed at finding a solution that would do justice to the tremendous suffering and damage caused by the downing of MH17”.

The passenger flight was shot down over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board, including 28 Australians, as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014.

Russia has routinely denied any involvement in the attack, claiming on Thursday none of its missile launchers have ever moved onto Ukrainian soil, despite photo evidence released by prosecutors seeming to suggest otherwise.

Prosecutors stopped short of saying who actually fired the fatal shot, but Mr Blok told reporters on Friday the findings “point to direct involvement of Russia”.

The foreign minister said attempts to hold Russia responsible for the plane’s downing under international law would be a different, parallel process from the ongoing investigation by prosecutors seeking to establish individual criminal responsibility.

But, a Dutch cabinet statement mooted presenting the case to an international court or organisation for their judgment as a “possible” next step, adding Australia shared its assessment of Russia’s role.

In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Show all 109 1 /109 In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A man cycles past a piece of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Petropavlivka, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Dutch military personnel carry a coffin containing the remains of the victims of the MH17 plane crash to a hearse at the airbase in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. A Dutch Air Force C-130 Hercules plane and an Australian Royal Australian Air Force C17 transport plane brought back 74 more coffins containing remains of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash, from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine to the Eindhoven air base in the Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A couple is backdropped by pictures of victims of the MH17 air crash during a memorial concert in Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A man lights a candle as family and friends attend a multi-faith service at St. Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne for those who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A woman cries after leaving a photograph (L) on the altar during a multi-faith service at St. Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne for those who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Sympathizers hug in front of flowers tribute at the entrance to the Korporaal van Oudheusdenkazerne, army barracks, in Hilversum, The Netherlands, where bodies of the people killed in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 air crash in Ukraine will be identified In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Angela (R) and George Dyczynski (L), walk past a Flight MH-17 memorial after arriving at Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands. Mr and Mrs Dyczynski have flown from Perth, Australia, to search for their daughter, Fatima, who was on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 which crashed in the Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The tower and airport buildings are reflected in the window of a terminal building as an airline hostess arranges floral tributes placed at the the Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam, The Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Members of the church share their grief at a Multifaith memorial service held for victims of the MH17 disaster at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The column of funeral hearses drive near Boxtel after leaving the airbase in Eindhoven to Hilversum, The Netherlands, after the arrival of a Dutch Air Force C-130 Hercules plane and an Australian Royal Australian Air Force C17 transport plane with the first bodies of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash in eastern Ukraine arrives from Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A procession of hearses carrying the bodies of victims in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 crash, depart after a ceremony at Eindhoven Airbase, the Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 (L-R) King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the airbase in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, during the arrival of a Dutch Air Force C-130 Hercules plane and an Australian Royal Australian Air Force C17 transport plane with the first bodies of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash in eastern Ukraine arrives from Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Bodies of victims in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 crash are transferred to funeral hearses by Dutch military personnel during a ceremony at Eindhoven Airbase, the Netherlands. The bodies were flown from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to the Netherlands after being recovered from the crash site In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Relatives of victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 react as people wearing white clothes gather in memory of the victims, in Amsterdam In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People release white balloons in the air during a silent march in memory of the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, on July 23, 2014 in Amsterdam Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People gather during a silent march in memory of the victims of MH17, in Amsterdam Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Hearses carry coffins containing unidentified bodies from the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 leave the airport in Eindhoven, Netherlands EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A column of funeral hearses carrying the bodies of Dutch passengers after leaving the airbase in Eindhoven EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The extent of the wreckage at the site where Malaysia Airlines MH17 crashed near Hrabove (Grabovo) close to Donetsk Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A Malaysian man lights up candles during a vigil in remembrance for passengers and crew of the Malaysian Airline flight MH370 & MH17 in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Belongings of victims are pictured at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in a field near the village of Grabove, in the Donetsk region AFP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Flowers lie on the tarmac of Kharkiv airport as a Hercules transport aircraft, belonging to the Royal Dutch Airforce, prepares to take off AFP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Honour guards load a coffin of one of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on to a transport plane heading to the Netherlands at Kharkiv airport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A coffin containing the body of a victim of the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is loaded onto a plane for transport to the Netherlands during a departure ceremony in Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A coffin containing the body of a victim of the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is loaded onto a plane for transport to the Netherlands during a departure ceremony on July 23, 2014 in Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Honour guards take part in a ceremony with coffins of some of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine before they are being loaded on to a transport plane heading to the Netherlands at Kharkiv airport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A coffin containing the body of a victim of the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is loaded onto a plane for transport to the Netherlands during a departure ceremony in Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Dutch flags fly half-staff in honour of 3 citizens, a mother,17 year old daughter and 13 year old son were among the victims of flight MH17 in Delft, Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 On-lookers during a ramp ceremony at Kharkiv Aiport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A worker uses a forklift to load coffins containing some of the remains of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on to a transport plane before they head to the Netherlands at Kharkiv airport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People lay coffins containing some of the remains of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on the tarmac before loading them on a transport plane heading towards the Netherlands at Kharkiv airport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Ukrainian officials attend a farewell ceremony near the transport plane used to carry some of the remains of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, before it heads off to the Netherlands at Kharkiv airport In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The train carrying the bodies recovered from the downed Malaysian flight MH17 arrives at the Malyshev Plant, in the government-held Ukrainian city of Kharkiv In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A Ukrainian policeman watches as a train carrying the remains of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine arrives in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Police officers secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of the passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv factory for a stop In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A guard stands on a train carrying the remains of victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine after it arrived in the city of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 An armed pro-Russian separatist stands guard as monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and a team of Malaysian air crash investigators inspect the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo), Donetsk region In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Malaysian experts check debris at the main crash site of the Boeing 777 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed flying over the eastern Ukraine region, near Grabovo, some 100 km east from Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Members of the Malaysia Special Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, on hand to assist in the investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, wait near the gate of the Malyshev Factory, a state-owned producer of heavy machinery where a train transporting the victims was taken in Kharkiv, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Two black boxes recovered from the crash site of the MH17 jet being handed over to Malaysian officials during a press conference in Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A Malaysian expert (L) examines a black box belonging to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 during its handover from pro-Russian separatists, in Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Aleksandr Borodai (C), self proclaimed Prime Minister of the self proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic', looks up after speaking at a news conference in which he he handed over the two black boxes of the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to Colonel Mohamed Sakri (2-R) of the Malaysian National Security Council during a press conference organized in Donestk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Donetsk People's Republic official (L) and Colonel Mohamed Sakri of the Malaysian National Security Council signing documents during the handing over to Malaysia of the two black boxes recovered from the crash site of the MH17 jet at a press conference in Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Malaysian activist holds banners during a protest at the United Nations office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Netherlands Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans speaks after a vote at the United Nations. With the backing of Russia, the UN Security Council unanimously condemned the downing of a Malaysian passenger jet and demanded crash site access in rebel-held east Ukraine. Timmermans who flew to New York to attend the Security Council session expressed outrage over the delays in securing the crash site In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A photo of Belgian national Benoit Chardome, one of the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines jetliner, is seen during a ceremony in Berchem, Antwerp In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Mourners dressed in white leave flowers as they gather in remembrance of the owners of the Asian Glories restaurant, after they were killed in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash over eastern Ukraine, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The Dutch government honors the victims of the MH17 plane crash in Ukraine with a full-page advertisement in Dutch newspapers, as seen here in Rijswijk, The Netherlands. The advertisement with the title 'Geschokt en verdrietig' (Shocked and sad) contains the 298 names of the victims In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A pair of clogs with a message for Dutch citizens killed on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is seen in front of the Netherlands Embassy in Washington In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People surround a refrigerator wagon as monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and members of a forensic team inspect the remains of victims from the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at a railway station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Torez In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and members of a forensic team inspect a refrigerator wagon containing the remains of victims from the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at a railway station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Torez In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (C) leaves the Netherlands embassy in Kiev after signing his condolences ceremony In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Pro-Russia rebels guard a train containing the bodies of victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 crash in Torez, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Alexander Hug (L), Deputy Chief Monitor of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, speaks to reporters after visiting a train containing the bodies of victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Torez, Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Tirso Pabellon, brother of Irene Pabellon Gunawan, one of three Filipinos who perished in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 passenger plane crash over East Ukraine, leave the Department of Foreign Affairs after obtaining his passport at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Bodies are removed from the site AFP/Getty In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Members of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry gather the remains of victims at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 near the village of Hrabove, Donetsk region In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Ukrainian workers handle debris at the main crash site of the Boeing 777 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Mourners attend a memorial service held for a family of five killed in the flight MH17 disaster, in the suburb of Eynesbury in Melbourne, Australia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima sign a condolence register at the Ministry of Safety and Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signs a condolence register at the Ministry of Safety and Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Malaysian youth gathers during a candlelight vigil for passengers and crew of the Malaysian Airline crash flight MH17 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Journalists look at debris from the Boeing 777 Malaysia Arilines flight MH17 In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Pro-Russian separatists block the way to the crash site of MH17, near the village of Grabove AFP/Getty In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Local people roam the wreck of MH17 AFP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Men carry a stretcher with a bodybag at the crash site EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A local resident stands among the wreckage at the site of the crash Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Passengers' belongings lie at the site of the crash Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Floral tributes are left at the gates of the Dutch Embassy in London and the Dutch flag flies half mast a day after a Malaysian airliner was brought down over Ukraine carrying over 170 Dutch passengers REX In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A woman crosses herself as people lay flowers and light candles in front of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev, to commemorate passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 carrying 295 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur which crashed in eastern Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Personal belongings and luggage of passengers between debris of the Boeing 777, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed during flying over the eastern Ukraine region near Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Armed pro-Russian militants pass next to the wreckage of a Boeing 777, of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 debris, which crashed during flight over the eastern Ukraine region near Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Members of the Ukrainian Emergency Ministry search for bodies near the site of Thursday's Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo, in the Donetsk region In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People search for bodies at the site of the crash of a Malaysian airliner near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A diver searches for a black box on the site of the crash of a Malaysian airliner near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Rescuers stand on the site of the crash of a Malaysian airliner near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Debris is seen at the site of Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo, in the Donetsk region In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Belongings of passengers on the site of the crash of the Malaysia Airlines near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A woman grieves for victims of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crash as she arrives to lay flowers at the the Dutch embassy in Moscow, Russia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Relatives of a passenger who was on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur react over the news at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Widi Yuliono a relative of John Paulisen, shows photographs of John Paulisen (Top-L), Yuli Hastini (Top-R), Arjuna Martin Paulisen (L) and Sri Paulisen (R) who are victims of the Malaysian Airline flight MH 17 plane disaster in eastern Ukraine, at his residence in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People bring flowers and candles to the Dutch embassy to commemorate the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in Kiev In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A young boy lights a candle in commemoration of the victims of Malaysia Airlines plane accident in eastern Ukraine in front of the Dutch embassy in Kiev In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A woman holding a sign that reads, "Putin is a murderer", lies down near flowers left by people to commemorate victims of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash, at the Dutch embassy in Kiev In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A family member cries as she receives the news of the ill fated flight MH17 on the phone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Family members of the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 cry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A firefighter sprays water to extinguish a fire, amongst the wreckages of the Malaysian airliner after it crashed, near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Flames and smoke amongst the wreckages of the Malaysian airliner near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A firefighter stands as flames burst amongst the wreckages of the Malaysian airliner near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the pro-Russian separatist 'Donetsk People's Republic' Alexander Borodai (C) stands as he arrives on the site of the crash of a Malaysian airliner, near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Debris of the Boeing 777, Malaysia Arilines flight MH17, which crashed during flying over the eastern Ukraine region near Donetsk In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People walk amongst the debris, at the crash site of a passenger plane in Ukraine AP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The wreckages of the Malaysian airliner Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at a site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 People stand near part of the wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane near Grabovo Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Taken from an amateur video, smoke rises from a fireball seen in the distance shortly after a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane crash AP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A man works at putting out a fire at the site of the plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Smoke rises up at a crash site near the village of Grabovo AP In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Smoke rises from the wreckage at the crash site near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A part of the wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane is seen after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Alleged image of smoke from the crash In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 In a picture taken from a mobile phone smoke is seen rising from the crash site AP/Andrei Kashtanov In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A general view of the crash site in the Grabovo settlement in the Donetsk region of Ukraine Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 takes off from Schiphol airport near Amsterdam EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Outgoing Belgian vice prime minister and foreign minister Didier Reynders makes a statement on the crash AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 The upper floor of Schiphol Airport is closed for media and reserved for family and relatives of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Reuters In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 A closed Malaysia Airlines counter at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam EPA In pictures: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 Airport security personnel look at the flight information board in the departure hall, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where flight MH17 was flying to AP

Foreign secretary Boris Johnson said the UK “fully supports” the request by the Dutch and Australian governments for Russia to accept state responsibility for the disaster.

“The Kremlin believes it can act with impunity. The Russian government must now answer for its actions in relation to the downing of MH17,” Mr Johnson said.

“This is an egregious example of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent life.

“The UK will continue to offer its full support to the efforts of the joint investigation team, the Dutch and Australian authorities and other grieving nations to deliver accountability for this terrible act and justice for all those who died.”

The father of one of the passengers has welcomed the move.

“This is great news,” said Hans de Borst, who lost his daughter Elsemiek in the crash. “I understand why the government waited, but now the evidence is clear.”

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop called for support from the international community for the move.

“This represents a threat to international security,” she said.

“If military weapons can be deployed and then used to bring down civilian aircraft in what was essentially a war zone, then international security is at risk and we call on all countries to inform the Russian Federation that its conduct is unacceptable.”

The US department of state said it “strongly supported” the move by the Netherlands and Australia.

“It is time for Russia to acknowledge its role in the shooting down of MH-17 and to cease its callous disinformation campaign,” said department spokesperson, Heather Nauert.

“As the findings of the joint investigative team made clear, the BUK missile launcher used to bring down the passenger aircraft is owned by the Russian Federation and was assigned to the Russian 53rd anti-aircraft brigade near Kursk.

“It was brought into sovereign Ukrainian territory from Russia, was fired from territory controlled by Russia and Russia-led forces in eastern Ukraine, and was then returned to Russian territory.”

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, called on Russia to accept responsibility for the crash and cooperate with international efforts to establish accountability.

“The downing of MH17 was a global tragedy, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“Nato has repeatedly expressed its full support for the efforts undertaken by the Dutch authorities and others to shed light on what happened on that terrible day, and to achieve justice for the 298 people who were killed and their loved ones.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the Dutch and Australian conclusions, and said that an atmosphere of “mutual distrust” existed between the investigation team and Russia.

“We categorically deny the allegations,” he said. “The investigation was a collective investigation … but it did not include the Russian side. Ukraine, however, was allowed to participate.”

Mr Peskov said Ukraine held responsibility for the disaster given that it “took no measures to close air space in and around a war zone”.

Meanwhile, the investigative group Bellingcat says it has “conclusively identified” joint investigation team person of interest Andrey Ivanovich as former Russian defence ministry officer Oleg Ivannikov.

Also known by the covert name “Orion”, the group claim the figure it believes to be Mr Ivannikov coordinated the military activities of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine from early 2014 until at least the following year.

Bellingcat also alleges the agent arranged the transport of arms across Russia-Ukraine border at the time MH17 was downed.

It said this was the first time it had been established a high-ranking Russian military official had been operating inside Ukraine at the time the Malaysia Airlines flight was destroyed.