US President Joe Biden called the killing of civilians in Ukraine a genocide. Quotes from his speech in Iowa are quoted by CNN.
“Your family budget, the ability to fill up your car — all these things should not depend in any way on whether some dictator from the other side of the world decides to start a war and commit genocide,” Biden said on April 12.
On the same day, the US President noted that he had previously avoided the word «genocide» in relation to the killings in Ukraine, but now he considers it justified, since the cities where the Russian military came are devastated.
“I called it genocide because it is becoming clearer and clearer that Putin is simply trying to wipe out even the very idea that one can be Ukrainian from the face of the earth. There is more and more evidence, literally terrible things that the Russians did in Ukraine, and we will learn more and more about the destruction, ”Biden commented on his speech.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reacted to the words of his colleague. He thanked Biden for the US assistance to the country and said that the Ukrainians «urgently need even more heavy weapons.»
Correct words of the correct leader @POTUS. It is important to call speeches by their proper names in order to resist evil. Thank you for the help, the USA already gave it to you, and in terms of the term, more important developments are required in order to save the vile atrocities of Russia.
— Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) April 12, 2022
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said on France 2 that he would not call the actions of the Russian military a genocide.
“I would be more careful with the terms. Russians and Ukrainians are fraternal peoples, — quotes the words of the French leader CNN. “I want to keep trying, as far as possible, to stop this war and restore peace. I'm not sure the escalation of rhetoric is contributing to that.»
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