Putin skips G20 amid arrest warrant fears in Brazil
Although he hesitated, Vladimir Putin ultimately announced on Friday that he would not participate in the G20 summit scheduled for November 18-19 in Brazil. Earlier, the Russian leader expressed his opinion on the International Criminal Court.
6:22 AM EDT, October 19, 2024
Vladimir Putin announced that he would not attend the upcoming G20 summit, which will be held in November in Brazil. He justified his decision by stating that his presence could "disrupt the important work" that will be conducted during the meeting of world leaders. He added that someone else would represent Russia there.
However, there's much more behind this decision. Ukraine, aware of the international sanctions imposed on Putin, publicly appealed to the Brazilian authorities to arrest the Russian leader if he decides to appear at the summit.
We remind you that in March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. This warrant pertains to charges of war crimes, including, among others, the illegal deportation of children from Ukrainian territories to areas controlled by Russia.
Putin on the International Criminal Court
Vladimir Putin seems to downplay any potential consequences related to the International Criminal Court's decisions.
"Decisions of this kind are very easy to circumvent, it is enough to sign an intergovernmental agreement and that’s it," said Putin, suggesting that he does not consider these sanctions a severe threat to himself or his plans. The Russian leader appears to argue that he can avoid any potential arrest warrants or restrictions that might await him during the G20 summit.
He's making a show of openly wiping his feet on the international justice system. But Putin confirmed he's not going to Brazil - so he is scared - commented the former Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Anton Gerashchenko, on social media.
