That is why Russia is accused of war crimes in Ukraine
Russia is accused of war crimes in Ukraine. Here’s what we know now.
Only FAQ, USA TODAY
The International Criminal Court in The Hague will join the investigation into allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine, while Russia’s devastating invasion of its determined neighbor lasted three months.
Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine have set up a joint investigation team to prepare for possible prosecutions within the countries and before an international tribunal. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and the three countries’ chief prosecutors signed an agreement Monday.
The agreement “sends a clear message that every effort will be made to effectively gather evidence of major international crimes committed in Ukraine and bring those responsible to justice,” the European Union’s Criminal Justice Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
Authorities in Ukraine have accused the Russian leadership and the military of targeting civilians, claiming that mass graves with hundreds of victims have been found. Russia has denied the allegations, accusing the Ukrainian military of falsifying photos of the dead or committing murders, and accusing Russia of trying to boost international support.
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From Potemkin to Putin: What a centuries-old myth he reveals about Russia’s war against Ukraine
Latest developments:
►On Sunday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President Joe Biden for his leadership and support of the Ukrainian people, saying that the friendship and partnership between the two countries is “stronger than ever.”
►Russia is planning an organized referendum in Kherson, a southern city that fell from Russian forces at the start of the war, to justify its occupation, the UK Ministry of Defense said.
►Reporters who accompanied Defense Minister Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Poland were barred by Pentagon and State Department officials from reporting on the visit to Kyiv until the two men physically left Ukraine. U.S. officials have voiced concerns about security.
►Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said new evidence was emerging that Russian troops had killed tens of thousands of civilians in Mariupol and then tried to cover it up.
Media in Sweden and Finland say their governments will apply to NATO next month. The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti said on Monday that the Swedish government wanted a “common date for the publication of NATO applications” and mentioned the week of 16 May. The Swedish tabloid Expressen said it had confirmed the plan through sources in its government. Both Scandinavian countries have long cooperated with NATO on defense issues and the United States supports their membership. Finland shares a border with Russia of 830 miles.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to growing support for NATO membership in Sweden and Finland, a Russian neighbor, for joining NATO. NATO has provided some support for Ukraine since the invasion, but has repeatedly refused to introduce a no-fly zone. NATO leaders have said the alliance will fully protect any member facing an attack.
The Biden administration has raised its financial promise and nominated a new ambassador to Ukraine after an almost secret meeting in Kyiv between two senior US cabinet officials and President Vladimir Zelensky. The announcements came hours after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin secured a top-level visit to Kyiv by a US delegation since the start of the Russian invasion.
Ukraine has repeatedly pressed the West for more powerful weapons against Russia’s campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Moscow’s forces are trying to displace the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port city of Mariupol.
Blinken and Austin told Zelensky and his advisers that the United States would provide an additional $ 300 million in foreign military funding and approved the sale of $ 165 million worth of ammunition. Blinken said US diplomats who left Ukraine before the war would begin returning to the country this week.
“We had the opportunity to directly demonstrate our strong continued support for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said.
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he would appoint Bridget Brink as US ambassador to Ukraine, a position he has held for three years. Brink is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and currently serves as Ambassador to Slovakia. If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first US ambassador to Ukraine since Donald Trump removed Marie Jovanovic from office in 2019. Jovanovic’s dismissal was one of the factors in Trump’s first impeachment.
The Michigan-born Brink previously served as a senior adviser and deputy assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and was responsible for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. She has also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the US Embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Tbilisi, Georgia.
The latest US financial commitment to Ukraine represents only a small fraction of the total cost to the hostile nation of 45 million people. Since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, the United States has allocated approximately $ 3.7 billion in “security aid,” the White House said Monday. The United States has provided more than $ 4.3 billion since the Biden administration began.
The United States is providing more than weapons and ammunition, announcing last week that it will give Ukraine another $ 500 million to help its government fund critical operations. The United States provided $ 500 million in similar aid last month.
“Ukrainians stand up, stand strong and do so with the support that we have coordinated literally from all over the world,” said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken after meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Zelensky met with senior US officials in Blinken, Austin
US top officials met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kyiv. Anthony Blinken and Lloyd Austin have promised more military aid to Ukraine.
Cody Godwin, Associated Press
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Moscow and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, his office said in a statement last week. Some Ukrainian officials say the meeting is not a good idea.
Igor Zhovkva, an adviser to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, said Guterres and the UN were “not authorized” to speak on behalf of Ukraine and try to negotiate peace with Russia on NBC’s Meet the Press.
“It’s not a good idea to travel to Moscow. We did not understand his intention to travel to Moscow and talk to President Putin, “he said, adding:” Any peace talks are good if they end in results. I really doubt that these peace talks, organized by the UN Secretary-General, will end in any result. “
He criticized the UN for “lagging behind” in providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, saying Guterres should also focus on that.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Schmihal said he was “not sure” whether Guterres’ trip would lead to a diplomatic breakthrough with Russia on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Numerous US governors have announced that the state National Guard will send armored vehicles to Ukraine at the request of the Department of Defense.
Both Ohio and West Virginia will send an undisclosed number of M-113 APCs to Ukraine, which are used to move troops and equipment across the battlefield, while providing protection from small arms fire and artillery.
“As we continue to learn about Russian war crimes in Ukraine, those of us in Ohio are ready to help the Ukrainian people in every way possible,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWain said in a statement. “Ohio has a strong Ukrainian community and we stand behind them and their families abroad.”
The announcement came the same week as President Joe Biden announced another $ 800 million in military support for Ukraine.
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Contribution: Associated Press
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