US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow this week suggests that Beijing does not believe the Kremlin should be held accountable for the “numerous war crimes and other atrocities” committed by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, documented by the US government.
Blinken considered that before “condemning” the actions of the Russian military, China “would prefer to provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue committing those same crimes.”
The top US diplomat said the United States hopes China will take advantage of Xi’s visit to Moscow to reiterate the calls for a ceasefire within the framework of his peace proposal.
“The fundamental element of any plan to end the war in Ukraine and bring about a lasting and just peace must be the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” Blinken insisted.
White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said Monday: “Any ceasefire that does not address the removal of Russian forces from Ukraine would effectively ratify Russia’s illegal conquest.”
Moscow said the arrest warrants are outrageous and has ruled out the possibility of Putin going to trial. Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.
US President Joe Biden and senior officials in his administration have accused Russia of committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine. In February, the State Department determined that members of the Russian forces and other officials had committed crimes against humanity on Ukrainian soil.
[Con la colaboración de Nike Ching, de la VOA]
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