DHAKA: Tougher EU sanctions against Russia will be needed if Moscow does not change its "approach" to the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine, David Cameron has indicated.

Amid claims Russia-backed rebels were involved, the prime minister said the EU should stand up for its principles.

Writing in the Sunday Times, he said it may be "time to make our power, influence and resources count".

He said many European countries seemed reluctant to "face up" to Russia, reports BBC.

Separately, the new Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has warned Vladimir Putin to "get out of east Ukraine". accusing Russia of "sponsored terrorism".

He told the Mail on Sunday: 'We have to make it very clear if there is any more interference like this - and it turns out he was behind it - there will be repercussions. He has to be clear the West will act."

Ten Britons were among the 298 people to have died when the Boeing 777 was downed on Thursday over eastern Ukraine.

On Saturday, Downing Street announced an agreement between the UK and Australia, which accounted for 27 of the dead.

Cameron and his counterpart Tony Abbott agreed the two countries would apply "further pressure" at the UN Security Council "for swift and unhindered access to the crash site".

He also spoke to Dutch PM Mark Rutte about the crash in which 193 Dutch nationals died. They "agreed that the EU will need to reconsider its approach to Russia in light of evidence that pro-Russian separatists brought down the plane", Downing Street said.

BDST: 1137 HRS, JUL 20, 2014