Australian FM urges Russia to support investigation into MH17 disaster

Australia's Foreign Minister has urged Russia against obstructing a United Nations (UN) Security Council move to further investigate the MH17 disaster.

The UN wants to set up a criminal tribunal to "bring justice" to the families and loved ones of the 298 passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was down in July last year while flying over East Ukraine, an area which has been experiencing conflict since March 2014.

Talking to Australian media outlets on Wednesday, Australia's FM Julie Bishop said she had support from the majority of the Security Council members, except for Russia, which could veto the move.

But said she had a "frank" discussion with Russia's ambassador the UN, Vitaly Churkin, telling him that Australia and other countries affected by the tragedy would be "bitterly disappointed" if Russia chose to veto.

"I believe we have a significant amount of support (for the tribunal)," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday.

"Russia should reserve its veto for matters which really count towards Russia's national interest, and this would not serve Russia's national interest in seeking to deny the families of those aboard MH17 justice."

Bishop said it would defy logic if Russia was suddenly opposed to any further investigations surrounding the incident, especially considering it showed an open-door policy in the initial investigations.

"I did remind the Russian representative today that Russia had backed the ceasefire, the retrieval of the bodies, the investigations, and so of course it was logical that it should back the setting up of the tribunal which would be able to investigate the causes of the crash and to hold those responsible to account," she said.

Bishop said if setting up an independent criminal tribunal was vetoed, Australia and other nations could explore other "other options".

Australia lost 39 citizens in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, which claimed all 298 lives when it occurred last year.

Bishop will next address the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.