Biden accuses Russia of genocide in Ukraine

Event

U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time on Tuesday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amounts to genocide, a significant escalation of the president’s rhetoric. Biden used the term genocide in a speech at an ethanol plant in Iowa and later stood by the description as he prepared to board Air Force One.

“Yes, I called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be Ukrainian and the evidence is mounting,”

Biden told reporters. He added:

“We’ll let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, but it sure seems that way to me.”

Biden has repeatedly called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal, but Tuesday April 12, marked the first time he accused Russia of committing genocide in Ukraine. Genocide, considered the most serious international offense, was first used to describe the Nazi Holocaust. It was established in 1948 as a crime under international law.

Comment

Under international law, genocide is an intent to destroy – in whole or in part – a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. According to U.N. convention, this includes through killings; serious bodily or mental harm; inflicting lethal conditions and measures to prevent births, among other means. Since the end of the Cold War, the US State Department has only formally used the term seven times. There is pressure on Biden to put more pressure on Putin as his own ratings have slumped further. Americans are struggling with rising energy and food costs fuelled by the war in Ukraine.

“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. We are seeing the return of the Cold War – the king of the south versus the king of the north.

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (Ezekiel 38:4)

Andy Walton

Weekly World Watch

++

Additional reading

1. Putin Lies And Manipulates History To Gain Domestic And International Support For His Military Buildup On The Ukrainian Border
2. Pledges to send more military assistance to Ukraine and Russian warnings
3. The Guardian’s view on Ukraine for the first half of April 2022