Warsaw.- Vice President Kamala Harris called this Thursday for an investigation to be carried out into whether Russia has committed war crimes against “innocent civilians” in Ukraine, during a hearing she made to Poland, which has received more of a million refugees from the conflict that has lasted two weeks.
Harris, speaking during a joint appearance in the capital with President Andrzej Duda of Poland, did not directly accuse Moscow of committing war crimes.
Instead, he joined the group of world leaders and human rights groups calling for an international investigation into the heavy shelling of densely populated residential areas in recent days that includes sites around Kyiv, Mariupol and other cities.
“When it comes to crimes and violations of international norms and standards, we have always been clear that any intentional attack against innocent civilians is a violation,” Harris said when asked if an international investigation into possible war crimes should be held.
“Absolutely, an investigation needs to be done and we all need to be vigilant,” he added, referring to the investigation being conducted by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry.
The Biden administration has independently collected information about Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine and shared it with allies, according to a senior administration official.
In Washington, Ned Price, a spokesman for the State Department, said Thursday that the Russian president’s plan to quickly capture Ukraine had failed.
“So, he’s using the strategy of devastating population centers, to try to break the will of the people of Ukraine — something he won’t be able to do,” he said.
