War in Ukraine: Joe Biden says ICC arrest warrant for Putin 'justified'

The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Vladimir Putin for war crimes is “justified”, Joe Biden said on Friday. The American president, speaking to reporters at the White House, recalled that the institution was not recognized by the United States, but considered that his decision nevertheless sent “a very strong signal”.

The United States has “no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and we have been clear that those responsible will be held to account,” an earlier statement said. spokesperson for the State Department, while emphasizing that the ICC acts “independently.”

Vladimir Putin, who next week will host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow, is now the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the war crime of “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion. The ICC, which is based in The Hague, has also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, on similar charges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a “historic decision, which marks the beginning of a historic responsibility”, the Kremlin judges for its part that it has no legal value. “Russia, like a number of states, does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court. Therefore, from the point of view of law, the decisions of this court are null and void,” said Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell hailed “an important decision” and hailed Britain a step that will “hold those at the top of the Russian regime, including Vladimir Putin, to account”.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion on February 24, 2022, according to kyiv, and many have been placed in institutions and foster homes.

ICC President Piotr Hofmanski said the issuance of the two arrest warrants is an “important moment in the justice process” for the court. He added that the execution of these mandates depended “on international cooperation”.

The issuance of an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state, a member of the UN Security Council, is an unprecedented step for the ICC, created in 2002 to try the worst crimes committed in the world. His prosecutor has been investigating for more than a year on possible war crimes or crimes against humanity committed during the Russian offensive.