‘Absolutely right’ to call Russian attacks on Ukraine genocide: Trudeau

In the wake of U.S. President Joe Biden calling Russia’s attacks on Ukraine a genocide, Canada’s prime minister says it is right to describe the war in that way.

Speaking Wednesday to reporters in Laval, Quebec, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his strongest words yet on the war in Ukraine.

“It’s absolutely right that more and more people be talking and using the word ‘genocide,’ in terms of what Russia is doing, what Vladimir Putin has done.”

Related article: Biden calls Russia war ‘genocide’ as more allied leaders head to Ukraine

Trudeau directly called out Russia’s actions in Ukraine and on Ukrainian identity and culture.

“The use of targeted attacks against civilians, against hospitals, against maternity wards, against train stations filled with people fleeing, the deliberate use of sexual violence against the Ukrainian population as a way of creating horrific scenes,” he listed.

“These are all things that are war crimes, that Putin is responsible for. These are all things that are crimes against humanity. That’s why Canada was one of the first countries to move forward at the international criminal court.”

Trudeau did not himself call this a genocide. The prime minister says there are international processes to make that official determination.

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On Tuesday, Biden called the war in Ukraine a genocide, saying Russia is trying to wipe out the idea of even being Ukrainian. Ukrainian Canadian groups have been pressuring the prime minister to make the same call.

Canada has placed several sanctions against Russia. Trudeau says they will remain in place as long as necessary to stop the war.