Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised President Joe Biden on Tuesday for saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is committing genocide in Ukraine.
“True words of a true leader @POTUS. Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil. We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
While delivering a speech about his administration’s actions to lower gas prices in Iowa earlier on Tuesday, Biden labeled Russia’s actions in Ukraine as a “genocide” for the first time since the invasion began.
“I’m doing everything within my power by executive orders to bring down the price and address the Putin price hike,” Biden said. “Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide half a world away.”
He later doubled down while speaking to reporters and admitted the decision is ultimately left up to lawyers to decide.
“It’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of being Ukrainian,” Biden said. “The evidence is mounting.”
“And we’re gonna only learn more and more about the devastation, and we’ll let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies but it sure seems that way to me,” he added.
