Russian troops have stepped up their shelling in an effort to break the will of the people [ukrainien]. Yesterday President Biden said that in his opinion war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. Personally, I agree
solemnly declared Mr. Blinken during a press briefing on Thursday.
« Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime. After all the destruction of the past three weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are acting otherwise. »
He put forward allegations that Russian troops deliberately targeted civilians, such as shelling the Mariupol Theater which housed hundreds of residentsincluding many children, or even shooting at people in line to buy bread in Chernihiv.
a maternity hospital in Mariupol“,”text”:”These incidents add to a long list of attacks on non-military civilian locations across Ukraine, including apartment buildings, public squares and, last week, a maternity hospital in Mariupol”}}”>These incidents add to a long list of attacks on non-military civilian locations across Ukraine, including apartment buildings, public squares and, last week, a maternity hospital in Mariupol
he recalled. I doubt any of us who have seen these images will ever forget them.
One way or another, those responsible for this war of aggression will have to be held accountable.
warned Mr. Blinken. We will ensure that our findings contribute to international efforts to investigate war crimes and hold those responsible to account
did he declare.
Moscow targeted by several investigations
Mr. Blinken was careful not to frame his war crimes claim as a formal accusation of the State Department and the US government. He said experts in his department are still documenting and evaluating evidence to determine whether Russia has committed war crimes.
However, this output was made in a formal context, unlike to that of President Joe Bidenthe day before.
Oh! I think he is a war criminal
replied the American president to a journalist on Wednesday, almost on the fly, on the sidelines of an event at the White House, before turning back.
This is the first time he has gone so far in his criticism of the master of the Kremlin.
So far, the White House and the State Department have unequivocally condemned Russian actions, while adopting a cautious tone. Carefully avoiding accusing Moscow of war crimes, both preferred to insist on the State Department’s investigation to determine this.
The Russian offensive, which has entered its fourth week, is also in the crosshairs of several national and international criminal authorities, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Canada is one of more than 30 countries that have asked the CPI to investigate Russia’s actions.
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.
The human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also said they had documented, in addition to the bombing of civilians, the use of cluster munitions, banned by the Oslo Convention, and thermobaric weapons. , prohibited by the Geneva Convention.
Blinken fears the worst, Biden denounces a murderous dictator
Despite direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials, Mr. Blinken was also unconvinced of a diplomatic outcome to this war and deplored the lack ofsignificant effort
from Moscow.
The Secretary of State also presented gloomy scenarios that Moscow could, according to him, retain for the rest of the conflict.
Russia could thus use chemical weapons while throwing the responsibility on its neighbor, send more mercenaries
on Ukrainian territory or remove other Ukrainian officials, he explained.
For his part, President Biden used his participation in a congressional event linked to St. Patrick’s Day to again denounce the Russian leader.
« [Plusieurs pays] are united against a murderous dictator, a real thug who is waging an immoral war against the Ukrainian people. »
A year ago, within days, Mr. Biden had agreed, without explaining his answer too much, during an interview in which an ABC News host asked him on whether he believed Vladimir Putin was a ‘killer’.