Relations between the US and Russia have sunk further after US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal".
This came on the same day that Russian air strikes hit a theatre in the city of Mariupol where over 1,000 people were thought to be sheltering, according to the city's deputy mayor, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on. Ukraine President, Volodomyr Zelensky, called this a deliberate and targeted attack. Russia has denied bombing the site.
Yesterday Zelensky made an address to US Congress via video garnering several standing ovations and, invoking Pearl Harbour and 9/11, pleaded with America for more weapons and tougher sanctions against Russia, saying: “We need you right now.” US President Joe Biden announced the US was sending an additional 800 million dollars (£608 million) in military aid to Ukraine.
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He also called Mr Putin a “war criminal”, in his sharpest condemnation since the invasion began. He’s a war criminal,” Mr Biden told Congress. The Kremlin responded labelling Biden's comments "unacceptable and unforgivable rhetoric".
Later yesterday evening Zelensky said in his nightly video address: “My heart breaks from what Russia is doing to our people". This was in response to the earlier theatre bombing.
Six nations have now called for a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Thursday afternoon, ahead of an expected Friday vote on a resolution demanding protection for Ukrainian civilians “in vulnerable situations”.
“Russia is committing war crimes and targeting civilians,” Britain’s UN Mission tweeted, announcing the call for the meeting that was joined by the US, France and others. “Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine is a threat to us all.”
Russian attacks have battered cities and villages across large parts of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, where residents have been huddling in homes and shelters. Russian troops shelled areas in and around the city on Wednesday, including a residential neighbourhood just 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometres) from the presidential palace. A 12-storey Kyiv apartment building erupted in flames after being hit by shrapnel.
Mr Putin went on television to excoriate Russians who do not back him, even as both sides expressed optimism over efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting. Russians “will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths,” he said.
“I am convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country.” He said the West is using a “fifth column” of traitorous Russians to create civil unrest.
“And there is only one goal, I have already spoken about it — the destruction of Russia,” he said. This speech had come amid signs that peace talks were finally making progress.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after Tuesday’s meeting that a neutral military status for Ukraine was being “seriously discussed” by the two sides, while Mr Zelensky said Russia’s demands for ending the war were becoming “more realistic”. Wednesday’s talks, held by video, appeared to wade more deeply into technicalities.
Mr Zelensky’s adviser Mikhailo Podolyak said Ukraine demanded a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and security guarantees for Ukraine from several countries. Russia has demanded that Nato pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.
