Shocking images of Russian atrocities in Ukraine are a bad sign for peace talks, a top Russia expert explained on Saturday.
"Russia's talks with a 'hostile' Ukraine have not been easy, but the main thing is that they are continuing, RIA news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Saturday," Reuters reported. "Russia and Ukraine have held several rounds of negotiations, both in Turkey and by video conference."
But new images may hamper negotiations.
Max Seddon, the Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, described the images as "pure horror."
"In Bucha, one of the towns near Kyiv that Russia recently withdrew from, Ukrainian forces found a mass grave with nearly 300 people in it and dozens of civilians lying dead in the streets," Seddon reported. "This will undoubtedly strengthen calls for more western sanctions against Russia. And it’s a bad sign for peace talks – Zelensky is going to have to sell a deal to Ukrainian society, and these horrific scenes will harden people against any perceived concessions."
Inna Sovsun, a member of Ukraine's parliament, was shocked by the images.
"4-5 naked women, whom the #russians were trying to burn. Given that they are naked, we can assume what happened to them before death.... They were dying in terrible suffering," she wrote.
4-5 naked women, whom the #russians were trying to burn. Given that they are naked, we can assume what happened to them before death....\n\nThey were dying in terrible suffering.\n\nI can't believe human beings can actually do something like this. But we are dealing with #russians...https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1510333131320090633\u00a0\u2026— Inna Sovsun (@Inna Sovsun) 1648929247
Russian troops retreat from near #Kyiv. The Ukrainian army chases them away. New video from the suburbs of Kyiv - Bucha. Dozens of civilian corpses are lying on the roads. Some people with their hands tied. #Russia bastards killed hostages.\nThe Vienna Convention doesn't work...pic.twitter.com/KpFWfqeqBS— Inna Sovsun (@Inna Sovsun) 1648904926
The above video was verified by the Washington Post.
pic.twitter.com/E1xfGOcHIN— Inna Sovsun (@Inna Sovsun) 1648933401
Chess legend and political activist Garry Kasparov warned the world to brace for more atrocities.
Brace yourselves for more atrocities by Putin\u2019s invaders. This is not only barbarity, but impunity. They believe they will face no consequences, and it starts at the top with Putin, on down to the soldiers who did this.https://twitter.com/Podolyak_M/status/1510336853261623301\u00a0\u2026— Garry Kasparov (@Garry Kasparov) 1648934507
Bill Browder said that the "heartbreaking atrocities" warrant a no-fly zone.
F..king barbarians! How much longer do the Ukrainian people have to be subjected to these unbelievable and heartbreaking atrocities before we give the Ukrainians the help they need. We should give them the no fly zone they are begging for so they can eliminate these monstershttps://twitter.com/defenceu/status/1510333131320090633\u00a0\u2026— Bill Browder (@Bill Browder) 1648929693
This will undoubtedly strengthen calls for more western sanctions against Russia.\n\nAnd it\u2019s a bad sign for peace talks \u2013 Zelensky is going to have to sell a deal to Ukrainian society, and these horrific scenes will harden people against any perceived concessions— max seddon (@max seddon) 1648932112
Humanity has been defeated in #Bucha today, the city northwest of #Kyiv. Just as it was in Bosnia in the '90s. \n\nWE-HAVE-SEEN-THIS-BEFORE! \n\nHistory keeps repeating itself and it seems there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. War is senseless. Cruel. #Ukraine #WarCrimespic.twitter.com/GF28q1klju— Ika Ferrer Goti\u0107 (@Ika Ferrer Goti\u0107) 1648931688
Bodies of civilians, who according to residents were killed by Russian army soldiers, lie on the street, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Bucha, in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 2, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemrapic.twitter.com/Muol2s60fR— Idrees Ali (@Idrees Ali) 1648938777
