US withdrawal from crime probe threatens Putin accountability
The United States is withdrawing from the international group investigating crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. This decision could impact efforts to hold Vladimir Putin accountable.
The USA has decided to withdraw from the International Centre 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 formed to hold Russia and its allies, such as 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 its withdrawal from the group's activities. An official confirmation of this decision is to be sent to Eurojust, the organisation overseeing the group's operations, via email.
"The New York Times" suggests that this move is another indication of the Trump administration's distancing from efforts to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes in Ukraine.
Limiting American activities
The USA was the only non-European country participating in the group’s activities. It had been collaborating 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 U.S. War Crimes Accountability Team, which was established in 2022. This decision may affect further efforts related to holding war criminals accountable.
