International press review
Headlines: Biden accuses Putin of carrying out 'genocide' in Ukraine
Audio 05:09
US President Joe Biden in Iowa, April 12, 2022. AP - Carolyn Kaster
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
Advertisement
As Russia continues its brutal and bloody offensive in Ukraine, Joe Biden “
further intensifies his rhetoric on the conflict
”, explains the
Washington Post.
After having already called Putin a "
war criminal
" and a "
butcher
", the American president for the first time yesterday denounced "
genocide
".
A term so far used by President Zelensky, but that American officials “
had carefully avoided
”, underlines the
New York Times.
Genocide suggests "
an effort to eliminate all or part of a specific group
," says the
Washington Post.
The newspaper reports that while Biden leaves it to jurists "
to qualify the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine
", it is clear, at least to him, that Putin is "
trying to erase the very idea of being Ukrainian
".
“
An escalation of words
” which comes as Putin promises to “
continue the fight
”, justifying his warlike “
rhetoric
”, underlines the
Guardian
, arguing “
clear and noble objectives
”, “
to help people in the Donbass
,” said the Russian president against the Nazi forces.
"
An existential threat
" that would justify his war in Ukraine.
“
Putin has built all his rhetoric on this idea that war has been imposed on Russia
”, explains a political scientist, still in the
Guardian.
“
A rhetoric that has been accepted by the Russian population
», and which justifies «
all the pains and all the sacrifices
».
Putin's good friend Viktor Medvedchuk arrested in Ukraine
"
Ukrainian security services have captured Putin's best friend
," headlines
The Independent
, which reports that Ukrainian MP and businessman Medvedchuk has been "
a close friend of the Russian president for more than 20 years
."
"
Putin is even the godfather of his daughter
", also specifies the Russian daily
Kommersant
.
"
Medvedchuk, 67
", had recently fled his house arrest - after he was charged last year
with "high treason
" and "
attempted looting of natural resources in Crimea
", underlines the Belgian daily
Le Evening
.
"
He was the main agent of influence of the Kremlin in Ukraine
”, also assures the
New York Times
which reports that President Zelensky now offers “
to exchange him for Ukrainians held captive in Russia
”.
Outcry in Germany, as Ukraine refuses President Steinmeier's visit
"
An unprecedented diplomatic affront
", a real "
snub
", the German press is up against the Ukrainian decision "
to disinvite Steinmeier
", headlines the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
which denounces a "
reckless
" decision.
“
Ukrainian leaders may have reasons for discontent, but not good reasons to offend the German head of state in this way
”.
Frank Walter Steinmeier, is accused by the Ukrainians
of "having been too Russophile
", explains the
Badishe Zeitung,
which highlights "
Kiev's frustration
", and believes that Zelensky is on the wrong target.
"This
and affront will cost him sympathy and will increase reservations against a stronger commitment from Germany in favor of Ukraine
", warns the German daily.
"
Such an affront does not benefit anyone
", also judges the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Even if the invitation to Kiev has now been extended to Chancellor Scholz, "
Steinmeier's sidelining can only please President Putin
", comments the
Suddeutsche Zeitung
.
Boris Johnson caught up by the “
partygate
” and fined
While "
he thought he was out of the woods, savoring alongside Zelensky last weekend in Kiev his stature as a leading statesman
", explains the
Telegraph
, Boris Johnson is caught up "
by the scandal of the parties prohibited during anti-covid confinement
” and fined.
“
He thus becomes the first British Prime Minister to have committed a criminal offense during his mandate
”, underlines the
Times.
Unheard of in the Kingdom of his gracious majesty, "
enough to revive the concerns of Conservative MPs about his leadership
" analyzes the
Financial Times
.
"
I broke my own law, but I refuse to leave
," mocks the headline for its part, the
Guardian
, which castigates "
Boris Johnson's refusal to resign
", as claimed by a large number of elected officials, but also "
57 % of public opinion,
” according to a recent poll.
All of our daily, live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
© FMM Graphic Studio
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Ukraine
Joe Biden
Russia
Vladimir Poutine
Human rights
Germany
Volodymyr Zelensky
Boris Johnson
UK
Coronavirus
Newspaper
On the same subject
Ukraine announces the arrest of oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, a close associate of Vladimir Putin
War in Ukraine - day 48
The day Joe Biden accused Russia of 'genocide' in Ukraine