"He is a war criminal," Biden said to reporters briefly at the White House after announcing a sweeping new military aid package for Ukraine.
Patrick Semansky/AP, Mikhail Klimentyev/AP
President Joe Biden delivered his harshest condemnation yet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a "war criminal" on Wednesday afternoon.
"He is a war criminal," Biden said to reporters briefly at the White House after announcing a sweeping new $800 million military aid package for Ukraine.
It's the first time Biden classified Putin as such. It comes as Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian civilians and cities.
"We're united in our abhorrence of Putin's depraved onslaught and we'll continue to have their backs as they fight for freedom, democracy, their very survival," he said earlier while announcing the new aid package.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice ordered Russia on Wednesday to immediately stop its attack on Ukraine as it investigates claims of genocide.
Since Putin's war declaration on Ukraine nearly three weeks ago, Russian attacks on civilians have led Ukrainian officials and leaders to accuse them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
