Biden: Russia war amounts to ‘genocide’ and Putin trying to ‘wipe out’ Ukraine

Mr Biden said it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russia’s conduct met the international standard for genocide, but said “it sure seems that way to me”

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

US President Joe Biden has said Russia’s war in Ukraine amounts to “genocide”, accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to “wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian”.

“Yes, I called it genocide,” he told reporters in Iowa shortly before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington.