The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, made a statement in connection with the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said that this decision launched the process of bringing Russian leaders to justice for crimes in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine reports citing Borrell's statement.
“The EU sees the decision by the ICC as a beginning of the process of accountability and holding Russian leaders to account for the crimes and atrocities they are ordering, enabling or committing in Ukraine,” the message reads.
Borrell stated that the EU "also expresses its support for the investigations by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine and calls for full-cooperation by all State Parties."
“As underlined by the Heads of State and Government of the EU Member States on 15 December 2022, the European Union welcomes and encourages further efforts to ensure full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
On 17 March, the Pre-Trial Division of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova. They are accused of illegally deporting children and illegally transferring them from the occupied territories of Ukraine to the territory of the Russian Federation.
US President Joe Biden emphasized that since Putin had committed war crimes, the warrant for his arrest was justified.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann welcomed the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also supported the decision.
South African Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya also noted that the South African government had "taken note" of the ICC's decision. Putin was expected to visit South Africa in August 2023 to participate in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit. There is currently no official confirmation of this information.