“We have seen very credible studies of deliberate assaults on civilians, which might represent a warfare crime. We have seen very credible studies about using sure weapons,” Blinken advised CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” The secretary gave the impression to be referring to Russia’s suspected use of cluster bombs in dense areas with many civilians.
“And what we’re doing proper now could be documenting all this, placing all of it collectively, taking a look at it and ensuring that as folks and the suitable organizations and establishments examine whether or not warfare crimes have been or are being dedicated, that we will assist no matter they’re doing,” Blinken stated. “So proper now, we’re taking a look at these studies. They’re very credible and we’re documenting every thing.”
“We’re following it very carefully,” Biden stated. “It is too early to say that.”
In its new inquiry, the ICC has stated it is going to have a look at all actions in Ukraine from 2013 to the current. Russia first entered the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, which it later annexed, in 2014. The ICC was already investigating crackdowns on protesters by a earlier Ukrainian authorities that was pro-Russian. This new referral appears to place all potential warfare crimes collectively.
“After all, we’ll have a look at that,” he stated when requested if the US would settle for any of the greater than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine who’ve crossed into neighboring international locations because the begin of the warfare.
“America is dedicated to doing something we will, to start with, to assist the international locations which are bearing the quick burden of taking in Ukrainians. After which, as applicable, if folks search refugee standing in the USA, in fact, we’ll have a look at that and I am certain act on that,” he stated.
Russian oil import ban
In his interview with Tapper, Blinken stated the US is working with its allies in Europe to look into the potential for banning Russian oil imports in an effort to additional punish the nation.
“On the subject of oil, Russian oil, I used to be on the cellphone yesterday with the President and different members of the Cupboard on precisely the topic, and we are actually speaking to our European companions and allies to look in a coordinated means on the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil whereas ensuring that there’s nonetheless an applicable provide of oil in world markets,” Blinken stated.
Leaders from each events have in latest days been calling on the US to chop off its provide of Russian oil, together with Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has co-sponsored laws to ban Russian oil imports.
“We should not enable Vladimir Putin to have the ability at any second to boost fuel costs on Individuals by slicing us off sooner or later now or sooner or later. So, we must always minimize him off now and change it with American oil and have a buffer in between the time that that manufacturing begins up and the time that we make the cutoff,” he advised Tapper in a later look on “State of the Union.”
“And we will use our strategic reserves for that,” Rubio stated. “It is not sensible in anyway to proceed to purchase oil from Russia that they use to fund this warfare and this murderous marketing campaign they’re enterprise.”
Sen. Joe Manchin, a reasonable Democrat from West Virginia, on Sunday additionally urged the US to chop off its provide of Russian oil, telling NBC “Meet the Press” that his constituents assume “it is mainly silly for us to maintain shopping for merchandise and giving revenue, giving cash, to Putin to have the ability to use towards Ukrainian folks.”
This story has been up to date with extra response and background data.
CNN’s Chandelis Duster, Ali Predominant, Kevin Liptak and Zachary B. Wolf contributed to this report.
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