Global outrage spread on Monday at civilian killings in north Ukraine where a mass grave and tied bodies shot at close range were found in Bucha, a town taken back from Russian troops.
In his first remarks since images emerged from Bucha, President Joe Biden declined to call what was happening in Ukraine a genocide but said it constituted a “war crime” and noted the importance of gathering evidence in those situations.
He told reporters at the White House that the US would be adding “more sanctions” against Russia, but did not provide details. Biden said he wanted President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to face charges.
“You may remember I got criticised for calling Putin a war criminal,” Biden said to reporters at the White House on Monday morning. “Well, the truth of the matter — we saw it happen in Bucha — this warrants him — he is a war criminal.”
When asked if he thought what had occurred was a genocide, the President replied: “No, I think it is a war crime.”
But he stressed that “we have to gather the information” — evidence of the sort required to charge Putin with a war crime. “We have to continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons they need to continue the fight, and we have to get all the detail so this can be an actual — have a war crime trial,” Biden added.
On Monday, he again disparaged Putin as a “brutal” criminal.
“This guy is brutal,” Biden said. “And what’s happening in Bucha is outrageous, and everyone’s seen it.”
The discoveries overshadowed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, due to restart against a backdrop of artillery bombardments in Ukraine’s south and east, where Russia says it is now concentrating its operations.
“These are war crimes and will be recognised by the world as genocide,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on a visit to Bucha, adding it had become harder for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia since the scale of alleged atrocities emerged.
Taras Shapravskyi, deputy mayor of the town some 40km northwest of Kyiv city, said around 50 victims of extra-judicial killings by Russian troops had been found there after Kremlin forces withdrew late last week.
Germany envoys
Germany said it is expelling 40 Russian diplomats over the actions of Russian forces in Bucha. “The images from Bucha are evidence of incredible brutality on the part of the Russian leadership and those who follow its propaganda,” Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, said.
Russia ally re-elected
Emboldened by a fourth consecutive landslide election victory, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to dig in against energy sanctions on Russia and toughen his stance in talks with Brussels to unlock frozen EU funds.
Nationalist Orban, who held on to his sweeping majority on Sunday, crushing the Opposition despite efforts to unite against him, will likely continue to reject any EU sanctions on Russian oil and gas, arguing they would wreck an economy already slowing due to the impacts of the Ukraine war.
Using his strong mandate, Orban will also entrench his conservative policies at home and could attempt to squeeze out foreign companies in some sectors like retail.
Serbian victory
An early official count of Serbia’s national election on Monday confirmed the landslide victory of President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist party — important allies of Russia in the volatile Balkans and in Europe.