January 1, Leaders React to Biden’s “Genocide” Comment

President Joe Biden described Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a “genocide” for the first time, a remark that has earned a mixed response from other world leaders.

“Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank — none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away,” Biden said in a speech on Tuesday.

President Biden labels Putin's invasion of Ukraine a "genocide" for the first time:

"Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank — none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away." pic.twitter.com/RlOpN3OpMi

— The Recount (@therecount) April 12, 2022

Biden reiterated his use of the term later that day.

“I called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian,” Biden told reporters.

Biden: I called it genocide because it has become clear that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian pic.twitter.com/h4SBfDQuFW

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Biden for using the term genocide as “a true world leader.”

“Calling things by their name is essential to stand up to evil,” Zelensky said.

But French President Emmanuel Macron avoided the term genocide, citing concern over escalating tensions.

“I am very careful with some terms [genocide] these days,” Macron said. “I’m not sure the escalation of words is helping the cause right now.”

“I think there is one thing that can be said with certainty, and that is that the situation is unacceptable and that these are war crimes,” he added.

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Macron warns of ‘escalation of rhetoric’ after Biden ‘genocide’ comment