Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

April 4, 2022

The President. I have one comment to make before I start the day. You may remember I got criticized for calling Putin a war criminal. Well, the truth of the matterâyou saw what happened in Bucha. This warrants himâhe is a war criminal.

But we have to gather the information, we have to continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons they need to continue the fight, and we have to gather all the detail so this can be an actualâhave a wartime trial.

This guy is brutal. And what's happening in Bucha is outrageous, and everyone's seen it. I'llâI'llââ

Reported Discovery of a Mass Grave in Bucha, Ukraine

Q. Do you agree that it's genocide?

The President. No, I think it is a war crime.

Sanctions Against Russia/President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of Russia

Q. What are you going to do about it, sir? Are you going to do more sanctions on Russia?

The President. I'm seeking more sanctions, yes. I'll have time to announce that to you.

Q. Could you offer some specifics, Mr. President?

Q. Can you actually hold Putin accountable though? You called him a war criminal.

The President. He should be held accountable.

Q. Can you actually hold him accountable without sanctions?

The President. Well, noââ

Q. What else can you do?

The President. Well, no, noâgoâgoâthe war crimesâyes, I'm going to continue to add sanctions.

Thank you.

Sanctions Against Russia

Q. What kind of sanctions, Mr. President? What are you thinking?

The President. I'll let you know.

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. following his arrival on Marine One from Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, DE, en route to the White House.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Fort Lesley J. McNair.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich.

Subjects: Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; District of Columbia : Fort Lesley J. McNair; Russia : Human rights issues; Russia : International and U.S. sanctions; Russia

: President; Russia : Ukraine, airstrikes and invasion; Ukraine : Russian airstrikes and invasion; Ukraine : U.S. assistance.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200249.