The crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine looks most likely to be the result of a catastrophic bungle. Such things happen in wars, civil and otherwise, and more details are awaited before the guilty can be identified. But irrespective of further revelations, the disaster looks certain to worsen US-Russia ties.

The Western media say the most likely direct cause of the disaster that killed all 298 people on board MH17 was the launching of a BUK surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile by secessionist forces in eastern Ukraine. According to Western media outlets, such missiles, apparently supplied by Russia, were used to shoot down at least three Ukrainian Air Force aircraft, including an Antonov An-22 military transport plane.

But the related parties should refrain from making conjectures and prejudgment and, more importantly, avoid politicizing the issue.