The horrific images from the Ukrainian city of Bukhara, where a million civilians were exposed after the withdrawal of Russian troops, reopen the debate within the EU on new sanctions against Russia in response to the horror.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this morning that one new round of sanctions at the expense of Russia is necessary, adding that there are clear indications how the Russian forces are responsible for the killings in town Mouth of Ukraine.
“There are very clear indications of war crimes. “It is more or less proven that the Russian army is responsible (for the killings in Bouka),” he told France Inter radio. “What happened in Bouka requires a new round of sanctions and very clear measures,” he added.
According to the French president, the new sanctions should be aimed at coal and oil.
Many European capitals are moving on the same wavelength – though not all.
The European “line” was expressed by the head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwho a while ago talked about “Horrible murders” in Bukha and other parts of Ukraine from which Russian troops withdrew.
The announcement came after von der Leyen contacted Ukrainian President Zelensky, who visited the city of martyrdom to see for themselves the situation.
Zelensky: The Russians treat us like animals
Zelensky visited the spot that made the rounds of the world through the international networks, with the damaged Russian chariots and the dead civilians lying in the middle of the street, bringing to the surface the most disgusting face of the war.
Speaking to reporters, the Ukrainian president said that despite the human suffering, the residents of the city show their humanity by taking care of the animals that were left homeless.
“This is a characteristic of our people, to treat animals as you would treat humans,” he said, adding that Russian soldiers treat humans worse than animals. “This is a real genocide, what you saw here today,” he added.
“The painful images can not and will not go unanswered,” said Ursula von der Leyen, assuring the Commission of her full support.
“Global response”
He also noted that “the EU has set up a joint investigation team with Ukraine to gather evidence and investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity. The EU stands ready to step up this effort by sending ground investigative teams to support the Ukrainian public prosecutor’s office. “Eurojust and Europol are ready to help.”
“A global response is needed. There are ongoing talks between Eurojust and the International Criminal Court to join forces and have the Court join the Joint Investigation Team. “Such a coordinated approach by the Ukrainian authorities, the EU, the Member States and their agencies and the International Criminal Court will enable the collection, analysis and processing of evidence in the most complete and efficient way possible,” Ursula von der Leyen said. In addition, the Commissioner for Justice will contact the Attorney General of Ukraine, while “the Commission will provide all the necessary technical and financial support to all EU-led investigations”, concludes Ms. von der Leyen.
For her part, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, is calling for the bodies to be exhumed in mass graves to investigate possible war crimes.
“I am horrified by the images of civilians lying dead in the streets and in makeshift graves in the Ukrainian city of Bukha,” he said.
“The resulting reports raise serious and worrying questions about possible war crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations of international human rights law,” he said.
Austrian veto
However Austria does not seem willing to agree in new European sanctions against Russia, especially on gas.
In a radio interview, the Austrian Foreign Minister said that his country would not support any EU embargo on Russian gas supplies, as the bloc – as he said – has other options to tighten sanctions against Putin.
The issue is also divisive in Berlin, where the ruling coalition is currently on hold. However, in their statements, government officials prefer the fifth package of sanctions to apply to individuals and assets, possibly also Russian banks, but not gas.
Moscow denies responsibility
While Europe blames the Russian military for the atrocities in Bukhara, Moscow denies the allegations and returns them to the Ukrainian side, saying it is orchestrated in collaboration with Washington.
The head of the Russian Commission of Inquiry has ordered an investigation into the allegations that Ukraine disseminated “deliberately false information” about the Russian armed forces in Butsa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia announced that the visual material with dead civilians in the city of Bukha in Ukraine was “ordered” by the USA as part of a plan to blame Russia.
“Who are the authorities in the provocations? “Of course, the United States and NATO,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with state television on Sunday.
Lavrov: Ukrainian provocations
In fact, the Russian Foreign Minister himself, Sergei Lavrov, stated that the scene in Buka is inpossessedeven talking about provocation which poses a direct threat to international security.
Lavrov claimed that the photos they have shocks the planetwere directed after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the city.
According to Sputnik, the Russian Armed Forces walked away from the area to March 30 and how on March 31The mayor of the city he solemnly stated that everything’s fine. According to the Russian diplomat, two days later it was directed.
The Ruptly agency even published a video that was allegedly uploaded by Mayor of Buka, Anatoly Fedoruk on social media on March 31st. He says that the Russian army was expelled from the city and that this is a great day for his country.
“March 31 will go down in the history of our settlement and the whole country as the day when the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated our territories from the Russian ” Orcs ”, from the Russian occupiers,” the mayor was quoted as saying.
Watch the video
Kremlin: False allegations and edited videos
His statements were similar Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov.
He repeated that Moscow categorically denies any connection with the mass murder of civilians in Bouka and claimed that the Ukrainian “narrative” not verified by sequence of events.
He even called on the international community not to rush to judge.
Peshkov did not provide any information to support his claim, but said Russian experts had identified signs of various “Fake” and edited videos in the material that has been released.
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