Putin calls for peace in Ukraine after plane crash

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MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says all parties in the conflict in eastern Ukraine should lay down the arms and engage in talks as soon as possible after a commercial airliner was shot down.

Putin said on Friday in comments carried by Russian news agencies that "peace in Ukraine must prevail as soon as possible" and called for direct talks between Kiev and pro-Russian insurgents.

Separatist rebels and Ukrainian government forces have been fighting each other for three months now, killing more than 400 people and displacing tens of thousands.