U.S. exit from war crimes panel sparks accountability concerns
The United States is withdrawing from the international group tasked with investigating crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. This decision could impact the efforts to hold Vladimir Putin accountable.
The U.S. has opted to leave the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine — reports "The New York Times." This group, which the U.S. joined in 2023 during Joe Biden's presidency, was established to hold Russia and its allies—such as Belarus, North Korea, and Iran—accountable for the invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of Justice has unofficially informed European partners about its withdrawal from the group's activities. Official confirmation of this decision will be sent to Eurojust, the institution overseeing the group's operations, via email.
"The New York Times" suggests that this move is another indication of the Trump administration's reluctance to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes in Ukraine.
Limiting American activities
The U.S. was the only non-European country involved in the group’s activities. It worked with Ukraine, the Baltic states, and Romania by sending a prosecutor from the Department of Justice to The Hague.
"The New York Times" also reported on the scaling back of efforts by the U.S. War Crimes Accountability Team, which was established in 2022. This decision may impact further efforts to hold war criminals accountable.
