LAST UPDATE | 18 Feb 2023

US VICE PRESIDENT Kamala Harris accused Russia of committing “crimes against humanity” in Ukraine and Russian forces of conducting “widespread and systemic” attacks on the country’s civilian population.

She made the comments at the Munich Security Conference today, days ahead of the one-year anniversary of Moscow sending its forces into Ukraine, unleashing war in Europe for the first time in decades.

“The US has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity,” she said in an address to world leaders at the gathering.

It is the first time that the United States has formally designated Russia’s actions in Ukraine as crimes against humanity.

“Their actions are an assault on our common value and our common humanity. Russian forces have pursued a widespread and systemic attack against a civilian population,” Harris added.

She listed a litany of abuses she said were carried out by Moscow’s forces in Ukraine – including murder, rape and torture.

“I say to all those who have perpetrated these crimes and to their superiors who are complicit in these crimes you will be held to account… Justice must be served,” said Harris, a former prosecutor.

The three-day conference is being attended by world leaders, including those from France and Germany, and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi.

Harris also hailed Ukraine’s success in standing up to Russia’s invasion.

“Kyiv is still standing, Russia is weakened, the transatlantic alliance is stronger than ever and, most importantly, the spirit of the Ukrainian people endures,” she said.

UK pledge

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today that his country “stands ready” to support allies who have fighter jets ready to hand over to Ukraine immediately.

The UK has refused to commit to providing Royal Air Force aircraft to Ukrainian forces, with the Prime Minister only saying he has not ruled it out.

But speaking at today’s conference Sunak said he would back allies who are in a position to supply war planes with immediate effect.

“We will happily provide assistance to any country that is able to provide Ukraine with fighter jets right now.

“The UK stands ready to support those countries as well.”

Downing Street used a visit by Zelenskyy to Britain last week to announce that the Ministry of Defence would train Ukrainian pilots on Nato-standard aircraft. 

NATO support

Allies, led by the United States, have sent billions of dollars of armaments to Kyiv, from artillery to air defence systems, but Ukraine says it needs more to launch a successful counter-offensive.

“We must give Ukraine what they need to win and prevail as a sovereign, independent nation in Europe,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

“The biggest risk of all is if Putin wins. If Putin wins in Ukraine, the message to him and other authoritarian leaders will be that they can use force to get what they want.”

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for bolstered military support in areas such as ammunition supplies: “We have to double down, and we have to continue the really massive support that is necessary.”

Opening the conference yesterday via video link, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to speed up their efforts.

Despite the calls for more backing, there is hesitancy on the part of allies to provide everything Ukraine wants.

While Berlin last month agreed German-made heavy battle tanks could be sent to Ukraine after weeks of hesitation, they have since struggled to get commitments from allies to join them in sending crucial armaments.

Zelenskyy’s pleas for Western backers to give combat jets to Kyiv has received a cool response, with allies downplaying the prospect of that happening any time soon.

On the battlefield, Moscow yesterday claimed a small gain in its grinding offensive, with mercenary group Wagner reporting the capture of a village near Bakhmut – the scene of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war.

 – © AFP 2023