**US Lawmakers Submit Resolution Labeling Russia’s War in Ukraine as Genocide**
A draft resolution to recognize Russia’s war against Ukraine as genocidal was submitted to the new US Congress on January 6. The draft resolution was presented by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
The resolution claims that Russia’s actions meet one or more of the criteria under Article II of the Genocide Convention, citing the intentional targeting of civilians, systematic sexual violence, and forced deportation of Ukrainian children. The resolution also calls for the US to condemn Russia and support Ukraine in international jurisdiction.
**Ukrainian Ambassador Reacts**
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, welcomed the draft resolution on Facebook. She said that all crimes committed by Russia must be reflected in US law to ensure punishment for Russian criminals and prevent such heinous crimes in the future.
Markarova added that Ukraine has opened over 170,000 cases of crimes related to Russia’s aggression, including 151,698 war crime cases.
**International Response**
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing forced deportations of Ukrainian children, in early 2023.