The US Secretary of Justice is paying a surprise visit to Ukraine today to discuss with the Attorney General ways to prosecute war crimes perpetrators, a US official said.
The meeting between Merrick Garland and Irina Venediktova will focus on “US and international efforts to assist Ukraine in identifying, arresting and prosecuting those involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine,” the official said.
Speaking to reporters in Ukraine shortly before the meeting began, Garland said: “I am here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine through the provocative and unjust Russian invasion.”
“The United States is sending an unequivocal message. There is no place for anyone to hide. We and our partners will do everything in our power to ensure that those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable,” he said.
Venediktova described their support as “very important”. “We all understand that we are facing very strong enemies,” he said.
The US Secretary of State, who will be in France tonight for a meeting with his European counterparts, met his Ukrainian counterpart not far from the Polish border, according to images broadcast by the Fox network.
Ukrainian investigators say they have registered more than 18,000 “war crimes and attacks” such as civilian killings, rapes, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and have identified more than 600 suspects since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
The United States announced in May that it would set up a “conflict watchdog” that would initially have $ 6 million to “collect, analyze and largely exchange evidence of war crimes” in Ukraine attributed to Russia.
President Joe Biden has personally called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” and a “butcher” and has gone even further than his government, saying Moscow is committing “genocide” in Ukraine.
Russia, however, says the allegations of war crimes are false and that the bodies of civilians discovered after the withdrawal of Russian forces from the suburbs of Kiev were a direct result.
SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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.
