President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine “genocide” for the first time.
While delivering remarks Tuesday, Biden argued Putin’s invasion has driven up gas and food prices worldwide.
“Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away,” Biden said.
Watch his comments below:
In a speech, U.S. President Biden said for the first time that Russia's invasion of Ukraine amounts to genocide. He later stood by the description but told reporters, ‘We'll let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies’ https://t.co/vt2jQ5QjsR pic.twitter.com/Vyp2XoBg6V
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 13, 2022
The president later clarified his remarks to reporters, saying, “I called it genocide because it has become clear that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian.”
He continued, “More evidence is coming out of the literally horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine.”
Biden suggested the United States is “only going to learn more and more about the devastation and we’ll let the lawyers decide internationally whether it qualifies but it sure seems that way to me.”
Check out more of his comments below:
Biden: I called it genocide because it has become clear that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian pic.twitter.com/h4SBfDQuFW
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2022
Last month, Biden referred to Putin as a “war criminal” during a meeting with U.S. service members.
“The single most important thing that we can do from the outset is to keep the democracies united in our opposition and our effort to curtail the devastation that is occurring at the hands of a man who I quite frankly think is a war criminal,” Biden said.
He added, “I think it will meet the legal definition of that as well.”
Similarly, while speaking from Ukraine to U.N. diplomats via video earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Russian military of committing war crimes.
“They cut off limbs, cut their throats,” Zelenskyy said.
He continued, ” Women were raped and killed in front of their children.”
Zelenskyy said those in the military who killed the individuals as well as those who ordered the killings “must be brought to justice immediately for war crimes.”
