Even before the russian invasion, the White House warned that russia planned to use terror in Ukraine and to kill civilians. This was reported by Reuters, citing a statement by US President's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Asked whether the killings in Bucha could have been carried out based on Putin's order, Sullivan said that before the invasion, Washington had warned of russia's intentions to "kill dissidents" and "impose a kingdom of terror in the occupied territories of Ukraine."
"We don't believe this to be a coincidence. We think it was part of the plan," Sullivan added.
Sullivan also said he had not yet seen evidence that the atrocities of russian soldiers had reached the level of genocide. He informed, that consultations on the issue could take place at the International Criminal Court or elsewhere.
At the same time, Sullivan stated that russia's permanent membership in the UN Security Council means that Moscow can veto any decision on war crimes.