A day after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant in the name of Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the “illegal deportation of children” from the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian president was in Crimea yesterday, where he art school for children. The surprise visit, Putin’s first visit to the region since the start of the “special military operation” in February 2022, coincided with the ninth anniversary of the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian province.
“Our chairman knows how to surprise. In the good sense of the word”, wrote in the Telegram the governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvojayev. The initial prediction was that he would inaugurate the school by video conference, but eventually he went in person. “Because on a historic day like today he is always with Sevastopol and its people”indicated.
Crimea, home to this autonomous city that is the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, was annexed on March 18, 2014 following a referendum not recognized by the international community. The same mechanism was used by Russia last year to annex Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizia, although they did not fully control it. Ukraine promises to get back all its territories, including Crimea.
During the visit, Putin did not say a word about the ICC’s arrest warrant – Russia does not recognize this court and is not under its jurisdiction, while the Kremlin said the day before that the arrest warrant is “null and void”. But because of him Putin can be detained if he travels to any of the ICC’s 123 countries. The Russian president is accused of forcibly deporting children – Kiev estimates there are more than 16,000 of them – which is a war crime.
US President Joe Biden responded to Putin’s arrest warrant by saying it was “justified”, but like Russia – and Ukraine itself – the US is not part of the International Criminal Court. “It’s not recognized by us either,” Biden said, still saying “it’s a force.”
cereal deal
The agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian grains through the Black Sea was extended yesterday, on the day it was due to expire, but there are doubts about the period during which it will be valid.
The United Nations and Turkey, acting as mediators, welcomed the decision but did not set a deadline for the extension. Kiev says it’s 120 days again – as foreseen in the original agreement signed in July and extended as early as November.
However, Moscow insists there are only 60, as it wants more guarantees for its own exports – of fertilizer and food – which the company says are suffering from Western sanctions.
Source: DN
