WASHINGTON, United States —
Washington has seen "very credible reports" that Russia has committed war crimes
during its invasion of Ukraine, particularly in attacking civilians, US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday.
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But President Joe Biden's top diplomat also
hailed the resilience of the Ukrainian people and said Russian leader
Vladimir Putin was "destined to lose" the war that has already claimed
hundreds of lives, including civilians.
"We've seen very credible reports of
deliberate attacks on civilians, which would constitute a war crime,"
Blinken told CNN talk show "State of the Union."
Blinken was speaking from Moldova, where he
was expected to provide reassurances for the small country, and where he
earlier said the US was "working actively" with Poland on a deal that
would supply
Ukraine with fighter jets to battle Moscow's invading forces.
Russia has come under intense criticism for
its assault on Ukrainian cities, in operations that
Kyiv and Western
governments say have included attacks on schools, hospitals, and residential
blocks.
On Thursday, Putin's forces attacked the
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, triggering fears of a
catastrophic atomic accident.
The US embassy in Ukraine the next day
called the attack attributed to Russian forces a possible war crime.
The State Department was more cautious,
saying it was assessing the circumstances of the operation but adding that
intentional targeting of civilians or civilian objects including nuclear power
plants "is a war crime."
With Russia laying siege to several
Ukrainian cities,
Blinken on Sunday warned of a protracted war and
"terrible" suffering.
"I think we have to be prepared for
this to last for some time. But just winning a battle is not winning the war.
Taking a city does not mean he's taking the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian
people," Blinken said.
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