Germany is backing calls for the suspected perpetrators of the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 to be held to account.

Almost 300 people, including four German citizens, were killed when the plane was shot out of the sky over eastern Ukraine nearly four years ago.

A team of international investigators this week blamed a Russian military unit operating in Ukraine for the crime.

Spokesperson Martina Fietz said on Friday the German government accepted and supported the investigators' report.

She told reporters that "Russia should meet its responsibilities so that the tragedy can be fully cleared up and the perpetrators can be held to account."

Fietz added that no decision has been made on whether members of the German government will attend the soccer World Cup in Russia next month.

Berlin - 25 May 2018

1. German government press briefing

2. Camera

3. Journalists

4. SOUNDBITE (German) Martina Fietz, spokesperson for the German government:

"The joint investigation team has now determined that MH17 was shot down by a Buk-type anti-aircraft missile system, which without doubt belongs to the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The report names a Russian military unit, which was on Ukrainian territory at the time in question, as the specific responsible."

5. Journalists

6. SOUNDBITE (German) Martina Fietz, spokesperson for the German government:

"Russia should now meet its responsibilities so that the tragedy can be fully cleared up and the perpetrators can be held to account. We fully agree with the Dutch and other governments that the perpetrators of this crime must be identified and brought to justice."

7. Journalists

8. Press briefing