US President Joe Biden has accused the Russian military of “genocide” in Ukraine. He coined that term for the first time since the war in Ukraine. He also called Putin ‘a dictator’.
“Your family budget, the ability to refuel, none of this should depend on a dictator declaring war and committing genocide on the other side of the world, ” Biden said during a speech in the US state of Iowa.
After his speech, Biden received follow-up questions about the use of the term “genocide.” Biden did not retract that statement afterwards. “Yes, I called it genocide because it is becoming increasingly clear that Putin is just trying to eradicate the idea of being Ukrainian. The evidence is mounting, ” he said. “It is up to international lawyers whether it can be qualified that way, but it certainly seems so to me.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously accused Russian troops of genocide. So that term has never been used by the US government before. Zelensky thanks Biden on Twitter for using the phrase: “True words from a true leader. Calling things by name is essential to fighting evil. We are grateful for the US assistance thus far. weapons needed to prevent further Russian atrocities.”
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