A spokesperson for the National Security Council stated yesterday that "U.S. President Joe Biden has tasked his government with starting to inform the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague about the evidence proving Russia's involvement in committing war crimes in Ukraine." He added, "Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the president has been clear: those who commit war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine and those who assist them must be held accountable." Furthermore, he noted, "Regarding the ICC specifically, we will not discuss any details about any cooperation, which aligns with the court's practice of handling requests for cooperation confidentially."
The U.S. Department of Defense had opposed the move, arguing behind closed doors that any cooperation with the court might open the door to politically motivated prosecutions of U.S. forces deployed worldwide. In March, the ICC, a permanent court specializing in war crimes, issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of his involvement in the forced deportation of children from Ukraine, which amounts to a war crime.
The White House has declined to provide any details regarding cooperation with the ICC. Russia is not a member of the ICC and claims it has no jurisdiction. Moscow denies committing atrocities during the conflict in Ukraine. The United States is also not a member of the court.
