The president of United States, Joe Bidenraised this Thursday the tone against his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putindescribing it as a “murderous dictator” who has authorized “inhuman” attacks against Ukraine.
The US president used those words a day after calling Putin “war criminal“for Russia’s tactics in its invasion of Ukraine, something the Kremlin considered “unacceptable and inexcusable”.
“(Putin is) a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine“, Biden said during a lunch in Congress on the occasion of Saint Patrick’s Day, patron saint of Ireland.
Shortly before, Biden also directly condemned the Russian president during a virtual meeting with the Irish prime minister, Micheál Martinin the Oval Office.
“Putin’s brutality and what his troops are doing in Ukraine It’s just inhuman“said the US president.
US DIRECTLY ACCUSES PUTIN OF WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE
The US government also increased pressure against Moscow by accusing the Russian forces of commit “war crimes” in Ukraine with their “intentional” attacks on civiliansamid continued shelling by Russian forces of major Ukrainian cities.
“Yesterday, President (Joe) Biden said that war crimes had been committed in Ukraine. Personally, I agree,” said Secretary of State, Antony Blink.
The head of US diplomacy cited the bombing of a children’s hospital and an air-raid shelter in the Mariupol theater, one of the cities hardest hit by Russian attacks and located on the southeastern coast of Ukraine.
“Intentionally attacking civilians – stressed Blinken – is a war crime“.
USA DEMANDS CHINA RESPONSIBILITY
In recent days, Washington’s irritation with the lack of leadership shown by its great rival on the world geopolitical board, Chinawhich has sought to maintain self-serving caution so as not to upset Moscow, its traditional ally.
“We believe that China, in particular, has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and uphold the international standards and principles that it claims to support,” Blinken said.
The US diplomat made Beijing ugly for “moving in the opposite direction with its refusal to condemn this invasion, while seeking to position itself as a neutral arbiter.”
Precisely this Thursday, the White House announced that tomorrow, Friday, Biden will hold a telephone call with the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingin which they will deal with the war in Ukraine, among other issues.
The call between both leaders will serve to give “continuity” to the dialogue started this Mondays during the meeting in Rome between Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and the director of the Office of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Commission, Yang Jiechi, explained the presidential spokeswoman, Jen Psaki.
The United States warned Beijing on several occasions that there will be “costs” if it offers help to Moscow in the face of the extraordinary sanctions applied by the international community to suffocate the Russian economy in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine.
For now, however, China has denied that it will offer Russia military or economic assistance to support its forces in the Ukraine invasion.