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Putin "will be arrested" if he travels to Germany, ambassador says https://t.co/dtGIcEx47n

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) March 23, 2023

German officials have made clear they intend to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin if the opportunity arises, as Moscow rails against the measure and denies it's committing war crimes in Ukraine, despite mounting evidence.

On Wednesday, Berlin's top diplomat in Ukraine became the latest German figure to commit to the ICC warrant, which was issued last week over Russia's forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russian territory since Moscow's full-scale invasion began last February.

"If Putin shows up in German territory, he will be arrested for sure," Anka Feldhusen told journalists at a Media Center Ukraine briefing on Wednesday. "That was confirmed yesterday by the minister of justice of Germany," she added. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also expressed his backing for the warrant, telling reporters during last week's visit to Japan: "No one is above the law."


"We are part of Rome Statute," the ambassador said, referring to the agreement that underpins ICC authority. "It's not only us, but more than 120 countries. So, Putin will have trouble going on trips to any such countries."

"I think that this arrest order is very timely, and the discussion is being more about the liability of Russia for the crime of aggression, for all the war crimes they committed," Feldhusen added. "And we are working on it with our Ukrainian partners."

The ICC warrant prompted fury in Moscow, with former President Dmitry Medvedev—who has become one of the most vociferous proponents of expanding the war against Ukraine—even threatening missile strikes on the ICC.

Russia's top court has now opened its own investigation against the ICC and the judges responsible for the Putin arrest warrant.

The Russian president is unlikely to be arrested any time soon. But the ICC ruling has been interpreted as a signal to Russian political and military leaders—as well as front line troops—that the international court is committed to punishing those involved in the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine.

An arrest warrant was also issued for the president's children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who has been publicly leading the relocation of Ukrainian children to Russia over the past year. More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia since February 2022, according to Kyiv.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, has said the children will be returned when the situation is safe enough to allow it. But Ukrainian officials and UN investigators say the forcible transfers are among the litany of war crimes being committed by Russian forces.

"It's showing their elites that Putin has a mark on his head," Mark Voyger—a former special adviser for Russian and Eurasian affairs to then-commander of U.S. Army Europe General Ben Hodges—told Newsweek.

"The Russian elites have been trying to integrate into the West for decades now, with all their luxury lifestyles: yachts, investments, bank accounts, their children studying in the U.K., U.S., France and so on," Voyger—now a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for European Analysis and professor at the American University of Kyiv—said. "This is showing them that Putin is antithetical to all this."

"I think the hope here is that they will start to waver, or at least those who are somehow still tied to the West, and maybe they will see that the tide is turning," Voyger added.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian foreign ministry for comment.

Someone needs to take putin out already. Dude fu*king up the world economy.

Ymmot said Someone needs to take putin out already. Dude fu*king up the world economy.

Proof you’re a retard

Germany must wants to be nuked, what this warrant purposes is really for is to prevent a peace deal. Outside of China it’s impossible for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia but NATO desperately wants this war to continue.

Booda Sack said Proof you’re a retard

Most of the world turned on Russia when Putin started this war. Only US enemies are pretending to side with Russia. 90% of the world understands what is at stake, you don't. Even dumb alt right idiots like DeSantis have realized the threat Putin poses if he captures Ukraine, but you don't. You're probably the last person who should be calling other people retard, little sheep.

The West working overtime to keep the war bucks coming in. Not only do these private corporations profit from contracts during a war they also profit in the post war contract economy.

That means the longer and more damaging a war is the more money war profiteers make. Peace is bad for business.

Imagine your country is at war and your city gets taken over by the occupying forces who then take your children from you and ship them off to a foreign land.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia since February 2022, according to Kyiv.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, has said the children will be returned when the situation is safe enough to allow it.

God bless those children

aaf192020 said The West working overtime to keep the war bucks coming in. Not only do these private corporations profit from contracts during a war they also profit in the post war contract economy. That means the longer and more damaging a war is the more money war profiteers make. Peace is bad for business.

Ummm, we're staying out of the war. Meanwhile Russia is committing war crimes and you think anyone other than Russia is preventing peace???

Stupendamatic said Imagine your country is at war and your city gets taken over by the occupying forces who then take your children from you and ship them off to a foreign land. God bless those children

No doubt, how does anyone in their right mind think Putin doesn't need to be locked up or a*sassinated?

Booda Sack said Germany must wants to be nuked, what this warrant purposes is really for is to prevent a peace deal. Outside of China it’s impossible for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia but NATO desperately wants this war to continue.

China has not been involved in any of the past peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. It's obvious what their motive is in pushing for their "peace plan."

NATO "wanting war" is the opinion of a privileged American that never had to worry about a Russia trying to big brother them.

Booda Sack said Germany must wants to be nuked, what this warrant purposes is really for is to prevent a peace deal. Outside of China it’s impossible for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia but NATO desperately wants this war to continue.

Bandito said China has not been involved in any of the past peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. It's obvious what their motive is in pushing for their "peace plan." NATO "wanting war" is the opinion of a privileged American that never had to worry about a Russia trying to big brother them.

You’re right which is why it’s odd America is doing more than Europe to protect themselves, yet you’re trying to convince me it’s paramount we should care more than their own neighbors.

Ymmot said Most of the world turned on Russia when Putin started this war. Only US enemies are pretending to side with Russia. 90% of the world understands what is at stake, you don't. Even dumb alt right idiots like DeSantis have realized the threat Putin poses if he captures Ukraine, but you don't. You're probably the last person who should be calling other people retard, little sheep.

Still showing you’re a retard and have no idea on what was stupid about what you said

Ymmot said No doubt, how does anyone in their right mind think Putin doesn't need to be locked up or a*sassinated?

And you don't think ww3 would start if that happened?

TreZ said And you don't think ww3 would start if that happened?

No, stop with the drama queen bullsh*t. You love talking out of your a*s. If Putin got taken out there would be peace. Most Russians don't support Putin's invasion or his military kidnapping children and raping women. But I guess you do.

Booda Sack said Still showing you’re a retard and have no idea on what was stupid about what you said

Oh, you don't realize how this war is fu*kin up the world economy. It's pretty stupid of you to draw attention to that.

Putin is going nowhere near Germany. Dude is a war criminal. Hope they piece of filth dies a miserable death

Ymmot said No, stop with the drama queen bullsh*t. You love talking out of your a*s. If Putin got taken out there would be peace. Most Russians don't support Putin's invasion or his military kidnapping children and raping women. But I guess you do.

My goodness you’re a fu*king retard

Ymmot said No, stop with the drama queen bullsh*t. You love talking out of your a*s. If Putin got taken out there would be peace. Most Russians don't support Putin's invasion or his military kidnapping children and raping women. But I guess you do.

Look how offensive you get


You're just a little bi*ch who lives in the suburbs of encino anyways.

Booda Sack said My goodness you’re a fu*king retard

He's a dumb sheep dude. Just look how mad he gets

TreZ said And you don't think ww3 would start if that happened?

This dumb a*s doesn’t know Putin was a preferred choice for the west. He opened Russia and western relations and expanded trade. The narrative of him being rouge is the west trying to whitewash their part in his rise. Truth is Putin is a moderate in Russia, he installed a bunch of crazies below him that would have a maximum approach, so him being k*lled would make things worse. @ is a retard

Booda Sack said This dumb a*s doesn’t know Putin was a preferred choice for the west. He opened Russia and western relations and expanded trade. The narrative of him being rouge is the west trying to whitewash their part in his rise. Truth is Putin is a moderate in Russia, he installed a bunch of crazies below him that would have a maximum approach, so him being k*lled would make things worse. @ is a retard

Can't believe he thinks world peace would happen if someone a*sassinated putin

TreZ said Can't believe he thinks world peace would happen if someone a*sassinated putin

that’s like saying if Iran a*sassinated Biden US troops would withdraw from the ME. Relations with Israel would be solved, and all the extremist leaders would disappear.

fu*king retard @

They are doing everything to end this man minus putting a bullet in him

Booda Sack said My goodness you’re a fu*king retard

You still pretending like your opinion matters to anyone?