Bucha massacre: “The true face of Russia”

The European press is unanimous: In view of the pictures from Butscha, nobody should look the other way. The media are demanding tougher sanctions, an arrest warrant for Putin and a legal investigation.

“It constricts your throat”

The Polish newspaper “Gazeta Wyborcza” writes about the pictures of killed civilians in Ukraine: “Mass murdered civilians, raped women, destroyed towns and villages, ubiquitous looting – the picture that presents itself after the withdrawal of Russian units from Ukraine is choking. In the past For decades we’ve grown accustomed to the idea that even war has certain rules in the civilized world, but the Kremlin’s hordes now ravaging Ukraine are proving that things are happening in Europe that we only know about from history books.

The current behavior of the Russian occupiers is reminiscent of the behavior of the Soviet army in devastated Germany at the end of World War II. At that time, however, the Red Army invaded the territory of the deadly enemy that had previously invaded Russia. And this is where Putin’s soldiers are supposed to be helping the Ukrainian brothers and freeing them from ‘fascism’. We now only know what it looks like inside because the Ukrainian army successfully resisted and forced the Russian invaders to retreat.”

Arrest warrant issued for Putin

The liberal Danish daily newspaper “politics” comments: “No one outside of Russia’s censors can have any longer any doubts that serious Russian war crimes have been and are still being committed in Ukraine. But it’s getting worse. Most recently, it’s the atrocity reports from Bucha, the suburb of Kyiv that shake.

The list of allegations grows. In terms of the nature of the crimes, one boundary after another is being pushed. Therefore, simply issue the international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin now. Give him his pariah status on paper too. And then builds the case against him and his inner circle so that no crime goes unnoticed.”

“Sanctions against Russia must be tightened”

The Belgian newspaper “The Standard” writes: “It is uncertain whether the Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin and his cronies will ever be brought to justice. But with the uncovering of mass graves, the Ukraine conflict is entering a new phase. (…) First of all, the sanctions should be tightened, so that Russia can no longer sustain the war effort.Preliminary analysis suggests that the current approach is not causing enough pain in Russian society.

At the same time, the Ukrainians must make further advances on the battlefield. This requires full and sustained military support. (…) In Syria and Chechnya, too, Putin did not shy away from mass murder. That’s why it absolutely has to be stopped. Our European security is not served by an uneasy ceasefire that will leave Ukraine in an unstable country with few resources for reconstruction. A bad peace deal would be the harbinger of new aggression.”

“responsible in court”

The Londoner says on the reports of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine “time”: “It goes without saying that the evidence of these crimes must be meticulously collected and every effort must be made to bring those responsible to justice. That must also include Putin himself and members of the Russian President’s inner circle. Just like that High-ranking Nazis involved in Adolf Hitler’s genocide were indicted before an international court in Nuremberg.(…)

Boris Johnson is right in trying to arm Ukraine with the most advanced weapons available, including anti-ship missiles. Other western governments should show similar determination. The arguments for a ban on Russian oil and gas imports are now overwhelming. Yes, the cost to the European economy will be crippling. But the price of a victory for Putin’s criminal regime would be even higher.”

“Archaic outburst of senseless violence and brutality”

the “The New Zurich Times” comments: “This is about an archaic outbreak of senseless violence and brutality against innocent people and against civilization itself. And President Putin is not solely responsible for these crimes. No deal can be made with this Russia that meets Western standards of morality The fate of millions of Ukrainian citizens in the east cannot be left to this inhuman state as long as their rescue seems possible.

It is thanks to the heroic struggle of the government in Kyiv and hundreds of thousands of brave Ukrainians that this hope still exists and that the world is able to see the true face of Russia. Whoever in the West is committed to peace and non-violence in the world must now understand: These goals cannot be achieved by giving in and negotiating with Vladimir Putin. (…)”

Against the horror of Bucha

The Portuguese Newspaper “publico” writes: “Some of President Joe Biden’s statements were quickly softened by US diplomacy and his allies. He called Putin a ‘war criminal’ and ‘butcher’, adding: ‘For God’s sake, this man cannot stay in power. ‘ If Mariupol had already shown that the first accusation was correct, the pictures of the atrocities in Bucha show that the term ‘butcher’ is unfortunately also correct.

Is it isolated cases of confused soldiers or behavior shaped by the idea of ​​’denazification’ of Ukraine? What is certain is that with these atrocities by the ‘Liberation Army’ it is becoming increasingly difficult not to believe that ‘this man cannot remain in power’. But this is countered by the fact that the West must continue to deal with Russia and that it is a dictator with nuclear weapons. So should the West do nothing? No, on the contrary, the idea that Putin will end up sitting in the Kremlin despite all the horror at his invasion of Ukraine makes it all the more urgent to make any claimed victory as bitter as possible for him.”

War crimes increase pressure on Western countries

War crimes increase pressure on Western countries The Amsterdamer Zeitung “The Telegraph” says: “The evidence of Russian war crimes seems to be piling up. Atrocities are said to have been committed not only in Bucha and the destroyed city of Mariupol. According to the human rights organization “Human Rights Watch” it can prove that in other regions civilians were also victims of ‘ unspeakable, willful atrocities’. (…)

The horrific images will increase pressure on Western countries to impose more sanctions on Russia and supply Ukraine with more powerful weapons. (…) It is only logical that a thorough international investigation into violations of the laws of war and crimes against humanity must now also be launched.”