On Wednesday, President Joe Biden dubbed Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal,” just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the US Congress for greater help in fighting Russian forces invading his nation.
Initially, the president stated “When asked if he considers Putin a war criminal by Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich, he responded “no,” but then returned 30 seconds later and said, “Did you ask me whether I would name… I believe he is a war criminal.”
Biden had earlier in the day decried Russia’s invasion and stated that the US is sending more weapons to Ukraine, including anti-air, anti-tank, body armor, firearms, and drones.
Even as many congressmen asked for Putin to be investigated for war crimes, Biden resisted naming Putin a war criminal until Wednesday.
The US Senate unanimously approved a bill on Tuesday evening that will investigate Putin and other Russian officials for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity.”