Russian crimes against humanity in Ukraine have been "formally determined" by the US, according to US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ms. Harris accused Russia of "gruesome acts of murder, torture, rape, and deportation" since its invasion while speaking at the Munich Security Conference.
The claims were refuted by Moscow's US ambassador, who also charged Ms. Harris with attempting to "demean Russia.".
At the conference, world leaders urged support for Ukraine over the long term.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that it was time to "double down" on military assistance.
The prime minister argued that Western allies must begin preparing for Ukraine's future security and sending it the weapons it requires to defend itself right away.
On February 24, which will mark one year since Russia's complete invasion of Ukraine, a conference will be held in Germany.
The accusers of alleged Russian crimes in Ukraine must be held accountable, Ms. Harris told the delegates.
They are attacking both our shared humanity and our common values, she said.
A "widespread or systemic attack" on a specific civilian population is what the UN refers to as a "crime against humanity.".
Moscow has vehemently denied that during the invasion, it targeted civilians.
The claims made by the vice president were a cynical attempt to "demonize Russia in the course of a hybrid war," according to Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the US.
He continued that they were a means of "justifying Washington's own actions to fuel the Ukrainian crisis," alluding to the US's armament of Kiev.
However, Ms. Harris, a former prosecutor, insisted that "there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity" in the case of Russia's actions in Ukraine. She added that "we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity.".
She listed numerous "barbaric and inhumane" atrocities that took place during the Ukrainian War, such as the discovery of numerous corpses in Bucha soon after the invasion and the bombing of a theater in Mariupol.
Let's all agree, Ms. Harris said, "that justice must be done on behalf of all the victims, both known and unknown.".
At the International Criminal Court (ICC), crimes against humanity are tried.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) can only exercise its jurisdiction in nations that ratified the agreement that established the court; it is not authorized to detain suspects.
Since Russia is not a party to that agreement, it is unlikely that any suspects will be extradited from Russia.
The three-day summit in Munich will serve as a crucial test of Western support for Kyiv as both sides in the conflict get ready for spring offensives.
Moscow, according to Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, "waged a genocidal war" against Ukrainians because it believed they did not "deserve to exist as a sovereign nation.".
Involved in Vladimir Putin's invasion were tens of thousands of fatalities and millions of evictions.
American and European political leaders have predominated this conference. They can show their resolve and reaffirm their support for Ukraine at this time.
To ensure the long-term security of Ukraine, Rishi Sunak urged the creation of a new Nato charter. Russia was charged with crimes against humanity by Kamala Harris.
There have, however, been dissenting opinions in the background.
Consider Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the prime minister of Namibia. She demanded a peaceful end to the conflict and spoke out against sending more weapons to Ukraine. She claimed that the recession, price increases, and broken supply chains had affected her nation.
Such widespread beliefs across Africa, Asia, and South America are what are focusing the minds of people in the United States and Europe.
Western policymakers have come to the realization that they must reframe their case for defending Ukraine almost a year after Russia's invasion.
When Antony Blinken and Wang Yi, the top foreign policy representatives for the US and China, met on Saturday, Russia was also on the agenda.
Mr. Blinken issued a warning about the repercussions should China lend material support to Russia's invasion during discussions at the conference in Munich.
In an interview that will air on NBC News on Sunday morning, Mr. Blinken is anticipated to claim that China is "at least contemplating providing" lethal assistance to Russia.
