U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about funds for Ukraine aid, in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, in Washington, DC, on March 16, 2022 .
Nicholas Kamm | AFP | beautiful pictures
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin “is a war criminal” because of his attacks on Ukraine.
This seems to be the first time Biden has publicly branded Putin with that phrase.
Biden’s comments come hours after Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said the president should “absolutely” call Putin a war criminal.
Kelly cited Russian attacks on “hospitals, maternity wards, apartment buildings” in Ukraine and “direct fire on civilians” by the country’s military.
During an interview with reporters, Biden was asked: “Mr. President, after what we’ve seen, are you ready to call Putin a war criminal?”
Initially, Biden replied, “No.”
The reporter then asked if Biden had “go to Poland,” where many Ukrainian refugees had fled the Russian invasion.
Then Biden said, “Did you ask if I should call?”
“Oh, I think he’s a war criminal,” Biden said.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
