US President Joe Biden has called for a war crimes trial against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and says he is seeking more sanctions after the reported atrocities in Ukraine.
Biden told reporters this afternoon: “He 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 to fight and we have to get all the detail so this could be – actual have a war crimes trial.
"This guy is brutal and what's happening in Bucha is outrageous and everyone's seen it."
The president said he thinks what is happening in the town is "a war crime" and that the Russian tyrant "should be held accountable".
Over the weekend Ukrainian sources shared sickening reports from the town of Bucha which have horrified the world.
A group of Russian soldiers - branded the 'Butchers of Bucha' - are said to have raped and shot women and children.
Biden added hat he plans to hit Moscow with additional sanctions for its conduct throughout the war - which began with Putin sending troops over the border into Ukraine on February 24.
The president said, "I'll let you know", when asked about the nature of those sanctions.
Other countries have doubled down on their support for the war-torn nation after details of the alleged atrocities was made public.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the discovery of mass graves in the town - which Russian soldiers had evacuated - "sickening" and promised "we will not rest until justice is done".
Deeply disturbing reports began emerging from the town over the weekend which the invading forces left in front of a trail of destruction.
It is feared that local women and children have been raped and civilians shot mercilessly and left in the street to die.
The numbers of dead in the town - which is situated just outside Kyiv to the northwest - are suspected to stretch into the hundreds.
Lt Colonel Azatbek Omurbekov, who leads the 64th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade which occupied Bucha, is the first senior military official connected to the massacre to be named.
Ukrainian reporter Evgeny Spirin said: “Some of the killed children had their arms tied up. Children…. They were tying up children. There were shot dogs."
Ukrainian activists and web sleuths have identified the presence of Omurbekov’s forces - which are normally based in the far east of Russia rather than Kyiv Oblast - and a number of other Russian military units.
Volunteers group Tretya Sila reported: "In Bucha there was a military unit 51460 from the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye, Khabarovsk region...
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will meet Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Warsaw on Monday ahead of key G7 and Nato talks later this week where she will push for tougher economic measures against "the Putin war machine".
Ms Truss argues that weakening Russia's economy will help strengthen Ukraine's hand in peace negotiations with Moscow.
She will hold talks with Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau on Tuesday and has also pledged a £10 million civil society fund for Ukraine, including support for organisations dealing with sexual violence following reports of Russian forces using rape as a way to terrorise the civilian population.
In a tweet published shortly before her expected press conference on Monday, the cabinet minister called for Russia to be suspended from the United Nations' Human Rights Council.
"Given strong evidence of war crimes, including reports of mass graves and heinous butchery in Bucha, Russia cannot remain a member," Ms Truss said.
There has also been widespread international outrage about other atrocities, including possible mass executions carried out by Russian forces as areas around the capital, Kyiv, returned to Ukrainian control.
The Prime Minister said: "The discovery of more mass graves outside Kyiv is sickening.
"The UK will not stand by whilst this indiscriminate and unforgivable slaughter takes place.
"We are working to ensure those responsible are held to account. We will not rest until justice is done."
Ahead of her talks in Poland, Ms Truss said: "Putin is yet to show he is serious about diplomacy. A tough approach from the UK and our allies is vital to strengthen Ukraine's hand in negotiations.
"Britain has helped lead the way with sanctions to cripple the Putin war machine.
"We will do more to ramp up the pressure on Russia and we will keep pushing others to do more.
"We will continue to support those who are suffering as a result of Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including the victims of sexual violence and those in need of humanitarian support."
