Putin is an International War Crimes Fugitive
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin charging him of committing war crimes during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, specifically focusing on the unlawful taking of children from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia. Putin is an international fugitive. The ICC is considering expanding charges to include indiscriminate attacks on civilians, torture or executions of prisoners of war, and other forms of crimes against humanity.
The ICC prosecutes individuals for the gravest crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The ICC also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, who coordinated the plan.
Yesterday, Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The purported purpose was to discuss potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine and attempt to negotiate a ceasefire. Trump rolled out and literally stood on the red carpet clapping for Putin as this international fugitive walked towards him with the world watching.
More about the Children
Ukraine’s government estimates that more than 16,000 children have been forcibly deported or stolen since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. The International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant referenced hundreds of documented cases with sufficient evidence, but investigators believe the true number could be in the tens of thousands. By placing Ukrainian children into Russian families, the Kremlin strips them of their Ukrainian identity, their culture, and their future.
Under international law, the forcible transfer or deportation of children from one group to another can qualify as a war crime and, in some cases, even an act of genocide. The ICC chose to focus on this charge because crimes against children are considered especially grave, and in this instance the evidence was both direct and thoroughly documented.
Civilian and Military Deaths and Injuries
While we’re here, let’s not forget the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented at least 13,580 civilian deaths and 34,115 civilian injuries in Ukraine from February 24, 2022, through June 30, 2025, though the actual numbers are likely higher.
The United States-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), along with other sources, estimates that Ukrainian military casualties, including both fatalities and wounded, are around 400,000, with deaths likely falling between 60,000 and 100,000.
Final Thoughts
Trump welcome and then applauded a man wanted for stealing more than 16,000 children from their families and leaving over 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 47,000 civilians dead or injured in his wake. No deal was made, nothing was accomplished, and all he did was hand Putin the world stage while spitting on every American value of justice, freedom, and humanity.
Mitch Jackson, Esq.
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