Europe leaders warn Russia to get crash zone open

French President Francois Hollande. Frederic Legrand / Shutterstock

PARIS — The leaders of France, Germany and Britain are telling Russia’s Vladimir Putin to ensure that separatists in Ukraine give full access to investigators at the Malaysian plane crash site or risk the ire of Europe.

French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed on Sunday to demand that Putin force separatists controlling the site to “finally allow rescuers and investigators to have free and total access to the zone.

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A statement from Hollande’s office said that if Russia fails “to immediately take the needed measures, consequence will be drawn” at an EU foreign ministers meeting Tuesday.

Armed rebels have denied emergency workers full access and are now removing bodies from the crash site.