US Lawmakers Accuse Putin of War Crimes Against Humanity: ‘The Definition of Genocide’

U.S. legislators have alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for acts amounting to genocide in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

The announcement came one day before a meeting between members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Mirror reported. An arrest warrant was issued for Putin in March by the ICC for war crimes.

Putin faced allegations of direct involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children, but as of now, the court has not charged him with any additional crimes related to the actions of Russian troops since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine 18 months ago.

During a visit to The Hague, committee chairman Republican Representative Michael McCaul said Putin is “trying to wipe out a culture, a people and a religion, and that is the definition of genocide,” the Mirror reported.

Republican Anne Wagner talked about the “crimes against humanity” and said it was “outright genocide that this man committed.”

Legislators' remarks coincided with a Russian attack on a market in eastern Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 victims and numerous injuries. This strike occurred in Kostiantynivka, a city near the front lines within the Donetsk region.

The shelling and destruction marked one of the most devastating attacks on civilians during the ongoing war, leaving at least 32 individuals injured.

The attack occurred during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Kyiv. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that the Russian attacks highlight "the importance of continuing to support the people of Ukraine."

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Blinken was expected to unveil another round of new financial support for Ukraine from the United States, encompassing both military and humanitarian assistance. “We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent,” Blinken said.

Committee members are scheduled to meet with Khan on Sept. 7. McCaul said they will look at “the evidence itself” and see how they can help the court in The Hague “gather even more evidence and data to prove Putin’s guilt.”