U.S. exit shakes global efforts against Putin's war crimes
The United States is withdrawing from an international group focused on addressing crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. This decision could affect efforts to hold Vladimir Putin accountable.
The U.S. has decided to withdraw from the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, reports "The New York Times." This group, which the United States joined in 2023 during Joe Biden's presidency, was established to hold Russia and its allies, including Belarus, North Korea, and Iran, accountable for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of Justice has unofficially informed European partners about this withdrawal from the group's activities. Official confirmation of this decision will be emailed to Eurojust, the institution overseeing the group’s activities.
"The New York Times" assesses that this move is another indication of the Trump administration distancing itself from the goal of holding Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes in Ukraine.
Limiting American actions
The U.S. was the only non-European country participating in the group's activities. They collaborated with Ukraine, the Baltic countries, and Romania by sending a prosecutor from the Department of Justice to The Hague.
"The New York Times" also reported on the reduction of work by the American War Crimes Accountability Team, which was established in 2022. This decision could influence further actions related to holding war criminals accountable.
