MH17

The shooting down of a Malaysian passenger plane over Ukraine has led to an increase in international tension. The US administration is blaming Russian backed separatists for shooting the aircraft out of the sky, resulting in the loss of 298 passengers and crew.

The UK is reported to be advocating banking oil and gas sanctions against the Russians. The decrease in tension between Moscow and Washington that characterised the era of Gorbachev seems to have been put into reverse. Russian president Putin's relationship with the West has been much more volatile than Gorbachev's. 

2nd April 1989. As part of a European tour Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev visited Ireland. As the architect of 'Glasnost' he was warmly welcomed on his arrival at Shannon Airport. Image shows Mikhail Gorbachev beginning his speech on the tarmac at Shannon Airport.

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