Blinken calls Russian attacks in Ukraine ‘war crimes,’ says Putin will pay ‘one way or another’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday stated Russia’s assaults in Ukraine quantity to “warfare crimes” and stated there might be accountability “a method or one other.”

“Yesterday, President Biden stated that, in his opinion, warfare crimes have been dedicated in Ukraine. Personally, I agree,” Blinken instructed reporters. “Deliberately concentrating on civilians is a warfare crime.”

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The Senate this week permitted a decision that may examine Russian President Vladimir Putin for warfare crimes, and Blinken stated U.S. findings might be used to assist worldwide efforts to carry the Kremlin accountable. 

Blinken wouldn’t touch upon how Putin’s lethal invasion in Ukraine will have an effect on U.S.-Russian relations down the street however stated, “Our focus is on ending this warfare.”

“I do not need to speculate concerning the future, however there’s going to should be, a method or one other, accountability for this warfare of aggression,” he added.  

The secretary’s feedback got here as Russian forces proceed to bombard cities and cities throughout Ukraine, concentrating on not solely navy websites however civilian shelters. 

Because the onslaught of the warfare three weeks in the past, Russian forces have hit condominium buildings, youngsters’s and maternity hospitals, bread strains and most lately a theater within the besieged metropolis of Mariupol that was sheltering roughly 1,000 males, ladies and kids. 

“The phrase ‘youngsters’ had been written in Russian, in big white letters, on the pavement exterior the constructing in order that you may know from the air that there have been youngsters inside,” Blinken stated. “[Russians] stepped up their bombardment with the purpose of breaking the need of the folks.”

However the secretary argued that regardless of the humanitarian disaster that has resulted from Russia’s unlawful warfare, Putin’s “invasion of Ukraine isn’t going to plan.” 

“They have not submitted. Quite the opposite, they’re preventing with extraordinary braveness to guard their houses, their households, their nation,” he added. 

Civilians make Molotov cocktails and prepare amid Russian assaults in Lviv, Ukraine, March 8, 2022. 
(Alejandro Martinez/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs)

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Blinken on Thursday reiterated considerations by safety officers that Russia is planning on utilizing chemical weapons and can then falsely blame the internationally banned substance on the Ukrainian authorities.

The transfer would set the stage for Russia to extend its already brutal techniques. 

“We imagine Russia will convey its mercenaries from personal navy teams and overseas nations to Ukraine,” Blinken stated. “President Putin acknowledged as a lot over the weekend when he approved the recruitment of extra forces from the Center East and elsewhere – one other indication that his warfare effort isn’t going as he hoped it could.”

The secretary warned that Russia will doubtless proceed to abduct mayors and native officers so as to substitute them with “puppets,” a priority safety officers have repeatedly warned may occur to the democratically elected authorities in Kyiv.

The U.S. believes Putin will search to instate Russian officers in native workplaces to make Ukraine economically depending on Russia, as he did following the 2008 invasion of Georgia. 

Ukrainian Territorial Protection Forces members maintain an anti-tank weapon in a park on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. 
(AP Picture/Efrem Lukatsky)

When pressed by reporters how the worldwide group and the U.S. will maintain Putin accountable, given his earlier offenses and lack of great worldwide response, Blinken stated, “I believe we have demonstrated that we have been good to our phrase.”

“After we stated that there could be sustained, highly effective assist for Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself, we demonstrated that we’re good to our phrase,” the secretary added.  “So after I inform you that there might be accountability and penalties for any extra crimes which were dedicated, I hope you’ll take my phrase.”