New Delhi: As the Russian offensive continues for more than 49 days, US President Joe Biden openly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces of committing genocide in Ukraine.
“Yes, I called it genocide,” Biden told reporters, hours after employing the term during a speech in Iowa.
“We’ll let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, but it sure seems that way to me,” Biden said. “It’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly lauded Biden as he Tweeted “True words of a true leader.”
True words of a true leader @POTUS. Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil. We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 12, 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ukraine told Russia to release prisoners of war if it wants President Putin’s most high-profile ally.
- Viktor Medvedchuk was captured by the Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday.
- Zelenskyy posted a photo of Medvedchuk on his Instagram account and wrote – “I propose to the Russian Federation: exchange this guy of yours for our guys and girls now held in Russian captivity.”
- The United States is likely to announce a new military aid package worth $750 million for Ukraine
- Putin on Tuesday clarified that the Russian offensive in east Ukraine will continue till his goals were met.
- The Russian president also claimed that photos and videos from the Bucha were fake.
- Putin also responded to the sanctions from the west by saying that it is impossible to isolate Russia.”We don’t intend to be isolated. It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world – especially such a vast country as Russia,” he was quoted as saying in reports.