The International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges
AUSTIN (KXAN) – The International Criminal Court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes.
The ICC said Putin and another Russian official were involved in the abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine. The announcement comes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated in recent days.
News of the arrest warrant comes as Putin prepares to host China’s president in Moscow next week, a visit the United States has said it would follow closely.
“It means a lot: speaking out against Russia’s brutal aggression,” President Joe Biden said.
Biden hosted the Irish prime minister at the White House on Friday, where the two leaders once again pledged their support for Ukraine.
“We will stay with Ukraine for as long as necessary,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
The international community is strengthening its support for Ukraine.
On Thursday, Poland’s president said his country intends to supply Ukraine with a dozen fighter jets. Hours later, Slovakia announced it would send 13 of its own jets.
A Kremlin spokesman said on Friday the planes would not change the outcome of the conflict, adding that the warplanes would be subject to destruction.
“Russia is running out of capabilities and running out of friends,” said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
He added that as the international community rallied behind Ukraine, Russia was seeking support from China.
Moscow denied the allegations, calling them outrageous and unacceptable, and the ICC said it was now up to the international community to enforce the mandates as it does not have its own police force.
