Biden accuses Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of clearly committing war crimes in Ukraine, ratcheting up the American propaganda offensive against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. Russia says the United States is fighting a proxy war in Ukraine against it.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday called for Putin's arrest on accusations of a war crime for deporting Ukrainian children and transfer of people from Ukraine to Russia since the conflict with the neighboring country began last year.

The United States is not a member of the ICC, but Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday that the ICC’s decision was justified.

"He's clearly committed war crimes," Biden told reporters, referring to Putin.

"Well, I think it's justified," Biden added, referring to the warrant. "But the question is - it's not recognized internationally by us either. But I think it makes a very strong point."

Western leaders have, unsurprisingly, been welcoming the ICC move with the EU foreign policy chief calling it an important decision for international justice and just a start.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also hailed the decision as historic. Russia has also accused Ukraine of committing war crimes. It says Kiev has used Western-made weapons against hospitals and civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia.

A US State Department spokesperson said on Friday that Russian forces have also committed war crimes in Ukraine and the US supports accountability for perpetrators of war crimes.

MG