PM’s comments came as Ukrainian ambassador Vadym Prystaiko was given a standing ovation in the Commons
Vladimir Putin has already committed war crimes in Ukraine, the prime minister told MPs on Wednesday.
Speaking in the Commons, Boris Johnson said the bombing of innocent civilians “in my view already fully qualifies as a war crime”.
The comments came as the Ukrainian emergency service said that more than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during the invasion that began seven days ago, Sky News reported.
Earlier, this week the prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague announced plans to launch an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Johnson said he was sure “the whole house” would support an investigation.
The PM had been responding to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who’d asked if Johnson would amend the UK’s war crimes act so “Putin will face justice in The Hague”.
Blackford said: “Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. And one day soon, Putin must face Justice in the Hague.
” Mr Speaker to prosecute Putin and his regime, the full range of war crime charges need to be used, including the crime of aggression by a state.
“But the UK is always refused to sign up to the prosecution of this crime and international law. Surely, with Putin’s crime of aggression in plain and horrific sight in Ukraine, now is the time to drop that opposition.
“Will the Prime Minister meet with me to discuss this and will the amend the UK War Crimes Act and really support the ICC prosecution for Putin for his crimes of aggression against the people?”
"Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and one day soon, Putin must face justice in The Hague"@Ianblackford_MP pic.twitter.com/m2W2A24t3a
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) March 2, 2022
The exchange came after the House erupted into a standing ovation when Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomed Ukrainian ambassador Vadym Prystaiko into the viewing gallery.
Politicians from both sides of the house took to their feet in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.
Sir Lindsay told the senior diplomat: “We generally do not allow applause in this chamber but on this occasion the House quite rightly wants to demonstrate our respect and support for your country.”
Prystaiko nodded in gratitude during the applause.
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