US VP Harris embraces call for war crimes probe of Russia
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris Connected Thursday embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over Information technologys Intrusion of Ukraine, citing the "atrocities" of Bombardment civilians, including a maternity Infirmary.
Speaking Aboard Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, where she is demonstrating U.S. Musical accompaniment for NATO's eastern Wing allies, Harris expressed Indignation over the Bombardment Wednesday of the maternity Infirmary and scenes of Bloody pregnant women being Exhausted, as well as Another attacks Connected civilians. She Stopped-up Abbreviated of directly Accusive Russia of having committed war crimes.
"Absolutely In that location should be an investigation, and we should all be Observation," said Harris, noting that the United Nations has already started a process to review allegations. "I have no question the eyes of the world are Connected this war and what Russia has done in Footing of this aggression and these atrocities."
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Harris' visit to Poland came amid a Flutter Betwixt Warsaw and Washington over a Polish proposal to send Information technologys Soviet-made Champion jets to a U.S. and NATO base in Germany so they could then go to Ukraine. Poland, in Bi, would receive American F-16s.
Poland had In public floated the proposal without 1st consulting the U.S. Just as Harris arrived in Warsaw late Wednesday, the Pentagon definitively rejected the idea, Expression Information technology would run the risk of escalating the Russia-Ukraine war.
At Thursday's news conference, both Harris and Duda Wanted to brush aside differences Connected the Champion jets issue.
"I want to be very clear, the United States and Poland are united in what we have done and are prepared to do to help Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, full Check," she said.
Duda for his part sidestepped questions about why Poland Declared Information technologys proposal without 1st consulting the United States. He Emphasized his government's Intent was driven by a desire for "NATO as a whole to make a common decision" Connected the matter.
"In a nutshell we have to be a responsible member of the North Atlantic Alliance," Duda said.
Harris' embrace for an investigation of war crimes came after the Biden administration Connected Wednesday warned that Russia Power seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as the White House rejected Russian claims of Hot chemical weapons development in the country Information technology has invaded.
The White House raised the Impression after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova — without evidence — accused Ukraine of running chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. Musical accompaniment.
The International Criminal Court Prosecuting attorne Declared last week he was launching an investigation that could Object Elderly officials believed responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity or Race murder amid a rising civilian death toll and widespread destruction of property during Russia's Intrusion of Ukraine.
But investigations at the ICC take many years, and Comparatively few convictions have ever been won. The ICC was set up in 2002 to Engage war crimes, crimes against humanity and Race murder. The crime of aggression, which can't be investigated in Ukraine because neither Russia nor Ukraine is a member of the court, was added later.
Duda said "it is Self-explanatory to us that in Ukraine Russians are committing war crimes." He added that in his view the Intrusion was "bearing the features of a Race murder — Information technology aims at eliminating and destroying a nation."
Harris praised the Polish people for their Generousness for Attractive in All but 1.5 Cardinal refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine last month.
"I've been Observation or reading about the work of Average people doing extraordinary things, and so I bring you thanks from the American people," Harris said earlier during a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hours after the U.S. House passed a massive Outlay bill that includes $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine and Information technologys European allies.
The legislation includes $6.8 billion to care for refugees and Another economic aid to allies.
Harris also met Thursday with Vii refugees who have fled from Ukraine to Poland since the Russian Intrusion began. She praised the refugees for their "courage" and said the conversation would help inform U.S. assistance efforts. The Grouping Enclosed a Ukrainian advocate for people with disabilities, a Moroccan university Pupil, a professional film Manufacturer from Odessa, a Senegalese community Loss leader and Instructor, a LGBTQIA+ rights activist from Kyiv, and a Ukrainian energy expert and her young adult daughter.
"We are here to Musical accompaniment you, and you are not alone," Harris told the Grouping. "And I know In that location's so much about the experience that you've had that has made you feel alone. You are not alone. We around the world are Observation."
The vice president is also Regular to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Spell in Warsaw. The Canadian Loss leader has been in Europe in recent days meeting with allies about Ukraine.
Harris' whirlwind visit to Poland and Romania was Beaked by the White House as a chance for the vice president to consult with two of the Loss Leadership from eastern Wing NATO nations about the Flourishing humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian Intrusion of Ukraine.
Already, more than 2 Cardinal refugees have fled Ukraine — with more than half coming to Poland — and even more expected to arrive in the days ahead.
Duda warned of a "refugee disaster" if Poland doesn't receive more assistance to help house and feed Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. He said he asked Harris for the U.S. to "speed up" the process for those Ukrainian refugees who would want to go to the U.S. and Power have Class In that location.
"The United States is Perfectly prepared to do what we can and what we must to Musical accompaniment Poland, in Footing of the burden that they have Affected Connected," Harris said.
Harris will Change of location Connected Friday to Bucharest, where she will meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
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Miller contributed from Washington. Associated Press Author Mike Corder at The Hague, Netherlands contributed reporting.