Joe Biden Calls Moscow’s Invasion “Genocide” – And Putin Keeps Calm About It
In a speech that felt more like a rant than a diplomatic briefing, President Joe Biden threw a fresh, fierce label at Russia’s war in Ukraine: genocide. The moment came in front of a pumped‑up ethanol plant in Iowa, then was echoed on the press brief as he strapped into Air Force One for the next leg.
Why “Genocide” Hits Right This Moment
- Biden said, “It’s clear now that Putin just wants to kill the idea of Ukrainians.” He added that the evidence of mass killings and systematic abuses keeps piling up.
- He noted the legal track will eventually be decided by international courts, but the “crime‑storm” feels unmistakably like genocide to him.
- It’s the first time he’s used the term—though his track record of calling Putin a war criminal stays on point.
Putin Declares the Operation Will Continue “Rhythmically and Calmly”
For the first time in over a week, President Vladimir Putin hit the press with a calm‑composed spiel: Russia will keep ticking, step by step, until it hits its goals. He brushed aside war‑crime accusations as “white lies” that Western powers plant to smear the Kremlin.
The Big Picture
- More than 4.6 million people fled Ukraine; thousands died or were seriously hurt.
- The world has pretty much put Russia on a global low‑budget isolation.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scolded Putin for signifying mass casualties for his own troops in a lit‑up war.
The Kremlin’s “Special Military Operation” Mythos
Moscow buzzes its “special military operation” claim: it wants to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies laugh at that as a flimsy smokescreen.
And the Big “Why We Don’t Do It” Question
Europa’s biggest offensive against an independent country since 1945 has turned into a brutal game of mouse‑pursuit: fight, flee, and get an away‑lot with the world.
So, in the grand tapestry of global political drama, it seems both leaders are doing what they think is best—Biden with a tear‑jerking “genocide” label and Putin with a calm, “we’ll keep marching.” Let’s just hope the next step isn’t another big surprise for the middle ground, because every headline is as volatile as the next.
<img alt="" data-caption="Service members of pro-Russian troops ride an armoured vehicle during fighting in Ukraine-Russia conflict near a plant of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works company in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 12, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters ” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”00648c48-b9c2-4a87-8aca-886f485160c6″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/130422_tank_reuters.jpg”/>During his comments, Putin frequently seemed to ramble or stammer. Only occasionally did he adopt the icy, confident demeanour that has been his trademark over more than 22 years as Russia’s leader.
Putin, who had been ubiquitous on Russian television in the early days of the war, had largely retreated from public view since Russia’s withdrawal from northern Ukraine two weeks ago.
Putin ally detained
Zelenskiy told Russia to release prisoners of war if it wants the Kremlin’s most high-profile political ally in the country freed.
Ukraine said that Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party, had been apprehended. In February, the authorities said he had escaped house arrest after a treason case was opened.
The politician who says Putin is godfather to his daughter has denied wrongdoing. A spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
“I propose to the Russian Federation: exchange this guy of yours for our guys and girls now held in Russian captivity,” Zelenskiy said in his address.
Alongside a photo of Medvedchuk in handcuffs, the head of Ukraine’s security service Ivan Bakanov said on Facebook that operatives “conducted this lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation” to arrest him.
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A Kremlin spokesperson was cited by the Tass news agency as saying he had seen the photo and could not say whether it was genuine.
Russia says it now aims to capture more territory on behalf of separatists in two eastern provinces, known as the Donbas. It includes Mariupol port, which has been reduced to a wasteland under Russian siege.
Ukraine says tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped inside that city with no way to bring in food or water, and accuses Russia of blocking aid convoys.
As Russia redoubles efforts in the east, Luhansk regional Governor Serhiy Gaidai urged residents to evacuate.
“It’s far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell,” he wrote on social media.
Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern Donetsk region, which includes Mariupol, said he had seen incident reports on possible chemical weapons use in the city but could not confirm them.
The United States and Britain have said they were trying to verify the reports. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it was closely monitoring the situation.
Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.
Russia’s defence ministry has not responded to a Reuters request for comment. Russian-backed separatist forces in the east denied using chemical weapons in Mariupol, the Interfax news agency reported.
The United States is expected to announce $750 million (S$1 billion) more in military assistance, two officials told Reuters, likely including heavy ground artillery systems to Ukraine, including howitzers, in a sign the war is expected to drag on.
Russia-Ukraine conflictUkraineRUSSIAWars and conflicts
