For the first time, Biden calls Putin a war criminal

For the first time, Biden calls Putin a war criminal

US President Joe Biden said that he believes the Russian leader Vladimir Putin “is a war criminal” because of the attacks in Ukraine.

It seems that this is the first time that the head of the American state has publicly called the Russian leader with this phrase.

Biden’s comment came hours after Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly said the president should “absolutely” call Putin a war criminal.

Kelly cited Russia’s attacks on “hospitals, maternity wards, apartment buildings” in Ukraine and “direct military firing on civilians.”

“President, after all we have seen, are you ready to call Putin a war criminal?” Biden was asked and he initially replied “No.”

But speaking with reporters at an unrelated event, Biden changed his declaration on the Russian leader. “I think he is a criminal war,” he said.