The behavior of the Russian military forces in Ukraine is equivalent to genocide, said today the Latvian President Egils Levic, after his return from a visit to Ukraine.
Speaking in Riga late Thursday, Levic referred to what he saw with his own eyes during a visit to the war-torn country together with the heads of state of Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.
“I would call it genocide,” the former judge told the European Court of Human Rights, adding that the issue could be legally resolved by an international tribunal.
The characterization of the war in Ukraine has been widely discussed in recent days after US President Joe Biden on Wednesday accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of committing “genocide” in Ukraine, using the word for the first time to describe country invaded by the Russian army on 24 February. Following in the footsteps of the US President, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trinto spoke of “genocide” in Ukraine.
However, other Western heads of state have distanced themselves, with French President Emmanuel Macron refraining from calling it a “verbal escalation.” Also today, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio stressed that “Italy has no evidence to determine whether genocide is being committed in Ukraine, but everyone can see the atrocities, the citizens and the children being killed.”
A day after Biden’s statements, the Kremlin categorically disagreed with Biden’s assessment that Russia’s actions in Ukraine constituted “genocide.”
Yesterday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a resolution calling the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine “genocide.”
The leaders of the four European Union and NATO member states (Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania) traveled by train to Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine’s efforts to counter the Russian invasion. Before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, the four leaders visited areas that have been severely damaged around Kyiv.
The sight of Kiev suburbs devastated by airstrikes and rocket attacks provoked “very charged emotions,” said Latvian President Levic. “It seemed that the Russian troops acted with great brutality to kill as many civilians as possible,” he added.
The talks with Zelensky focused on aid to Ukraine. “Ukraine needs weapons – now. And not just light weapons, but also heavy weapons,” said the Latvian president.
The leaders also discussed financial and economic assistance, as well as the possibility of exporting grain from Ukraine through the Baltic and Polish ports, he concluded.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
