Biden made the comment hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed U.S. lawmakers and Biden signed a bill giving Ukraine $800 million in military and humanitarian aid.
Other world leaders have called Putin a “war criminal” but this is the first time Biden has said it. The White House had previously said that it was a legal term that needed research, The Associated Press reported.
Biden made the comment after an event at the White House Wednesday afternoon, Reuters reported.
C-Span reported the event was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden was “speaking from the heart” when he made the comment, The Independent reported.
Day 20 People demonstrate in support of the Ukraine outside the United Nations' top court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, where judges where expected to rule on a request by Ukraine to order Russia to halt its devastating invasion. But it remains to be seen if Moscow would comply with any order made by the International Court of Justice. Russia snubbed a hearing last week at which lawyers for Ukraine accused the country's powerful neighbor of "resorting to tactics reminiscent of medieval siege warfare" in its brutal assault. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (Peter Dejong/AP)
Day 20 A child's drawing is hung next to a first aid bag inside a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Day 20 In this photo released by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service press service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a market hit by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Ukrainian State Emergency Service via AP) (AP)
Day 20 In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office and posted on Facebook, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to members of the U.S. Congress from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Zelenskyy summoned the memory of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in appealing to the U.S. Congress to do more to help Ukraine's fight against Russia. President Joe Biden said the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) (AP)
Day 20 A soldier drinks tea during a break at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Day 20 A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces assists a woman to cross the street in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow’s forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 Ukrainian military servicemen prepare to fire salutes during the funeral of their comrades, Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk, in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Day 20 Soldiers carry wooden logs while building a trench, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Day 20 A Ukrainian National guard soldier inspects a Russian damaged military vehicle in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 A view of a bomb crater after Russian shelling in the central of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy) (Pavel Dorogoy/AP)
Day 20 A family who fled the war in Ukraine wait for a bus at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Russia's military forces are blasting Ukraine's capital region and other major cities as they try to crush a Ukrainian defense that has frustrated their progress nearly three weeks after invading. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (Petros Giannakouris/AP)
Day 20 A man walk with his son in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Day 20 A soldier look through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Day 20 Funeral procession of Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Day 20 A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces stands next to his APC in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 Damaged vehicles and buildings in Kharkiv city center in Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy) (Pavel Dorogoy/AP)
Day 20 A Ukrainian firefighter works by a destroyed apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 An elderly woman cries during the funeral procession of Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Day 20 Damaged military ammunition in a military truck in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 A woman reacts during the funeral procession for Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Day 20 A damaged military vehicle seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow’s forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)
Day 20 A Ukrainian firefighter works near a destroyed apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP)