(Munich) US Vice President Kamala Harris has accused Russia for the first time of committing ‘crimes against humanity’ since its invasion of Ukraine began nearly a year ago. year.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr.me Harris, a former prosecutor, gave a chilling enumeration of abuses attributed to Russia, citing systematic bombings targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, torture and rape attributed to Russian soldiers, deportations of Ukrainians to Russia, including thousands of children separated from their families.
“We have looked at the evidence, we know the legal standards and there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity,” she said during a speech.
“And I say to all those who perpetrated these crimes and to their superiors or accomplices in these crimes: you will account for it”, she warned.
Since the start of the invasion, the United States has documented or cataloged more than 30,600 cases of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, the US State Department said.
“There can be no impunity for these crimes,” insisted the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken in a separate press release.
“As long as it takes”
Kyiv has called for a special court to be set up to try top Russian officials, but its exact form raises complex legal questions.
In tune with her allies, the American vice-president also reaffirmed that the United States – by far the main arms supplier to Kyiv – would support this country “as long as necessary” and she reiterated the solidity of the link transatlantic and NATO vis-à-vis Russia.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of a defeat for Ukraine.
PHOTO ODD ANDERSEN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
“The biggest risk of all is that Putin wins. If Putin wins in Ukraine, the message for him and other authoritarian leaders will be that they can use force to get what they want,” he warned.
The Kremlin is mobilizing “hundreds of thousands of troops” and procuring “more weapons from authoritarian countries such as Iran and North Korea”, he said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for “redoubled efforts” in military aid to Ukraine, in order to “defeat the imperialist plans of [Vladimir] Cheese fries “.
PHOTO SVEN HOPPE, REUTERS
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Almost a year after the launch of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, there is no sign of appeasement in sight. Russian troops have seized almost a fifth of Ukrainian territory, the fighting has claimed tens of thousands of victims on both sides, and NATO fears a new large-scale offensive from Moscow soon.
Fear of a long war
“Our priority is to guarantee the strength of Ukraine on the ground,” pleaded Mr.me Harris.
The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had said they feared a long war on the first day of the Conference.
The President of the Commission particularly insisted on an acceleration of the production of standard armaments, such as ammunition, which Kyiv “desperately needs”.
“It is not possible that we have to wait months, years before we are able to restock ourselves” to deliver this material to Ukraine, she insisted.
EU members are currently exploring ways to make joint ammunition purchases for Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources in Brussels.
The US military on Friday announced a nearly $1 billion contract to increase production of 155mm caliber artillery ammunition, used in large quantities by Ukraine.
The allies are supporting Ukraine with financial and military aid, including Western-made heavy tanks even if they are slow to arrive on the ground, and with drastic economic sanctions against Russia.
In Munich, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak indicated that the next international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine will take place in June, in London.
Ukraine is also crying out for combat planes from the allies, who remain reluctant at this stage.