U.S. Senate passes resolution condemning Putin as war criminal

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal.

That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"The resolution, introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and backed by senators of both parties, encouraged the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and other nations to target the Russian military in any investigation of war crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine," the statement said.

According to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats and Republicans joined together to say that "Vladimir Putin cannot escape accountability for the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people."

Last week, both houses of U.S. Congress approved legislation providing $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine and its European allies. U.S. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on March 15.

On February 24, Russian President Putin announced a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying infrastructure, residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and ballistic missiles.

Ukraine officially filed a lawsuit against the aggressor country to the UN's International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan decided to launch a formal investigation into the situation in Ukraine.