Biden: 'Putin's brutality' in Ukraine is 'just inhumane'

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden said Thursday that Vladimir Putin's "brutality" in Ukraine as "inhumane," one day after calling his Russian counterpart a "war criminal."

Speaking at the outset of a virtual meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin from the Oval Office, Biden said the two leaders are "meeting at a moment where the demands of unity in the world are really accelerating."

"Putin's brutality, and what he's doing, and what his troops are doing in Ukraine, is just inhumane," Biden said, referring to the three-week military attack on Kyiv.

Biden also praised Ireland's support for biting sanctions against Russia.

The meeting was planned in person but Martin tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday.

Russia began its war against Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has drawn international condemnation, led to sweeping financial sanctions and export controls on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 780 civilians have been killed and 1,252 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which emphasizes that the true number is likely much higher.

More than 3.2 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, according to UN figures.