U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly committed war crimes, and that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant against him is justified. Earlier on Friday, the court called for the arrest of Putin on suspicion of responsibility for the deportation of children and the unlawful transfer of individuals from Ukraine to Russia since Moscow's invasion on February 24, 2022. The United States is not a member of the ICC. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated in an emailed statement that the U.S. has separately concluded that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine and supports holding war crime perpetrators accountable.
"We have no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and we have made it clear that those responsible must be held accountable... The ICC prosecutor reached this decision independently based on the facts presented to him," the spokesperson added. The ICC's action compels the 123 member states of the court to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot on their territory. The court also issued an arrest warrant on Friday for Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on the same charges.
A report supported by the U.S., prepared by researchers at Yale University last month, indicated that Russia has detained at least six thousand Ukrainian children in at least 43 camps and facilities as part of a "widespread systemic network." Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities by its forces during the invasion. The Kremlin stated on Friday that the ICC's decision is "null and void."
