For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, US President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a war criminal on Wednesday afternoon.
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Biden first answered “no” to the question of whether Putin is a war criminal as he was leaving for an event at the White House in Washington. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the journalist to hear the question again. Then he replied:
– I think he’s a war criminal.
A Kremlin spokesman calls Biden’s comments “unacceptable and unforgivable rhetoric”, writes the Russian news agency Tass.
Earlier, both Biden and other official spokesmen referred to the ongoing investigation into the war in Ukraine when it came to whether Putin had committed war crimes or not, according to CNN.
Orders Russia to stop the war
Earlier Wednesday ordered the UN Supreme Court (ICJ) Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. The ruling by the court in The Hague is the first statement from an international court after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
– Russia will immediately stop the military operations that started on February 24 in Ukraine, the judges said The Hague Court.
They also stated that Russia must ensure that other forces under its control or supported by Moscow stop their military operations.
Ukraine has taken Russia to court with allegations of violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention and demands for an immediate halt to hostilities.
–Ukraine also asked the court to rule that there is no legal basis for the invasion.
Russia boycotted the hearing in court on March 7. The ICJ’s ruling is binding, but the court has no authority to ensure that any orders are actually carried out.
One billion dollars in aid
On Wednesday, Biden presented a new package of 800 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine. The funds come on top of the 200 million that were sent over the weekend.
In total, the United States has provided $ 1 billion in aid to Ukraine.
The United States will also provide new advanced weapons to Ukraine, such as drones and anti-tank weapons. The president also mentioned anti-aircraft guns with longer range than the United States has previously provided.
Russia is said to have bombed a theater where civilians were staying in Mariupol on Wednesday:
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