Oh! I think he is a war criminal
replied the American president to a journalist, almost on the fly, on the sidelines of an event at the White House, before turning back.
The American President, who has announced additional aid of US$800 million for Ukraine’s security earlier in the day without using such harsh terms, immediately answered in the negative. He then retraced his steps to ask the reporter to ask her question again, which he initially seemed to have misunderstood.
While the Russian army continues to shell the major cities of Ukrainethe Kremlin strongly condemned the remarks of the tenant of the White House.
We consider unacceptable and unforgivable such rhetoric from the Head of State [américain]whose bombs have killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world
responded the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, quoted by the TASS and Ria Novosti agencies.
So far, the White House and the State Department have condemned the Russian actions unequivocally, however refusing to accuse Moscow of war crimes and preferring to invoke the holding of investigations.
Only the American ambassador to the UN had took that step in a BBC interviewwhich could give the impression of a diplomatic blunder more than a real change of tone on the part of the Biden administration.
Other foreign leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, have not hesitated to denounce war crimes.
White House appears to tone down Biden’s comments
The American President spoke from his heart about what we see on television
supported in a press briefing the spokesperson for the White House, Jen Psaki, after the exit of Joe Biden, citing barbaric acts, horrible acts, perpetrated by a foreign dictator who threatens and takes the lives of civilians, affecting hospitals, pregnant women, journalists and other people
.
The president answered a direct question posed to him and reacted to what he saw on television, which we have all seen
she added, emphasizing again the ongoing investigation at the State Department.
Clearly, if Russia intentionally targets civilians, it is a war crime
she added, seeming to want to diminish the scope of the president’s remarks.
When announcing additional security aid to support Ukraine in the face of Russian troops, President Biden condemned depraved attacks
promising the country invaded by Russia the solidarity of the United States and its allies.
« The American people will be steadfast in their support of the Ukrainian people in the face of Putin’s immoral and unethical attacks on civilian populations. »
Despite Moscow’s denials, the media report the intensification of bombardments on residential areas and civilian infrastructure.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian authorities also accused the Russian forces of new atrocities, affirming among other things that the latter had bombed a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of civilians had taken refuge, and of shooting at people queuing to buy bread in Chernihiv.
In the morning, Volodymyr Zelinsky delivered, remotely, a vibrant plea to Congressrenewing among other things its call for a no-fly zone.
According to a growing UN toll, the Russian offensive has killed 726 Ukrainian civilians by midnight on March 16, in addition to wounding 1,174. As of March 12, the World health (WHO) had for its part confirmed a total of 31 attacks against medical structures, including the one about a children’s hospital in the besieged city of Mariupolin southern Ukraine, which sparked international outrage.
Not to mention the three million civilians who have fled the country, according to the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Senate united behind Kyiv
Russia’s war in Ukraine seems to be bringing together an otherwise polarized and divided Congress – even if only on this issue.
Showing rare unanimity, the US Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning, among others, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia for acts of aggression amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Ukrainian people and others
.
Ironically, however, the American position to adopt towards Russia was a bone of contention in Washington during the Trump years, with several Republicans following in the footsteps of a Republican president who refused to raise his voice against the master of the Kremlin and criticized the ‘Ukraine.
The resolution, introduced by Republican Lindsey Graham, Strongly condemns the violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity and systematic violations of human rights that are continuously perpetrated by the Russian armed forces and their proxies, as well as by President Putin’s military commanders, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin
.
The text, which also quotes acts that amount to war crimes
committed over the past two decades in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine and Syria, further supports the holding of international investigations into possible war crimes committed by Russia.
Moscow in the crosshairs of international justice
The war launched by Moscow three weeks ago is in the crosshairs of several national and international criminal authorities, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Human Rights Council of theHIM-HER-IT.
The German and Spanish courts, according to the principle of universal jurisdiction, have also opened an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Russian troops.
Earlier today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s highest court, ordered Moscow to immediately suspend its military campaign in Ukraine, saying deeply concerned
by the scale of the fighting.
About ten days ago, Russia refused to appear at the opening of the hearings before the ICJ, which initiated proceedings at the request of the Ukrainian authorities.
Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, said they had documented serious violations of the laws of war by Moscow, including the use of cluster munitions, which are banned by the UN Convention. ‘Oslo, and thermobaric weapons, prohibited by the Geneva Convention.