The War in Ukraine: What to Remember from March 17th

Vladimir Putin, who will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in Moscow, is now subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on Friday March 17 for the war crime of “unlawful deportation of children”. Russian invasion, a decision hailed by Kiev and the West.

Franceinfo returns to the highlights of the day ahead The war in Ukraine.

Targeting Vladimir Putin with an arrest warrant for war crimes

The International Criminal Court said on Friday Issuing an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin He was held responsible for the war crime of “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion. The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, has issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, told AFP that Vladimir Putin is now subject to arrest on the territory of one of the court’s 123 member states. Arrest warrants issued on Friday are “Based on scientific evidence, close scrutiny, and what these two people saidKarim Khan said. The evidence we presented focused on crimes against children. Children are the weakest part of our society.”.

Russia rules arrest warrant “null and void” from the International Criminal Court

Senior Russian officials rejected this arrest warrant, saying it had no legal value for Russia. Russia, like a number of countries, does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court, and therefore, from the point of view of law, the decisions of this court are null and void.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Dmitry Peskov felt that the idea of ​​arresting Vladimir Putin was “flagrant and unacceptable”. The spokeswoman for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, spoke about the ICC’s decision “Does not make sense”And Including from a legal point of view..

And the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, reported that Maria Lvova Belova confirmed that she would continue her work despite the decision of the International Criminal Court.

Volodymyr Zelensky praises the “historic” decision of the International Criminal Court

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the decision “Historic marks the beginning of a historic responsibility.”For its part, the Kremlin ruled that the decision had no legal value. More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion on February 24, 2022, according to Cave, and many have been placed in institutions and foster homes.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, paid tribute “important decision” United Kingdom is welcomed “This step was taken by the independent International Criminal Court to hold those at the top of the Russian regime accountable, including Vladimir Putin,”.

Xi Jinping will visit Moscow early next week

On Friday, Moscow and Beijing also announced Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia from March 20-22. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin will sign a joint statement to deepen them “Strategic relationship enters a new era”Said the Kremlin’s diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov. While Washington suspects China is considering arms deliveries to Russia, which Beijing and Moscow deny, the two leaders will also talk about cooperation. “military technology”again according to the Kremlin.

Russian news agencies quoted, Yuri Ochakov also praised “detention” On the conflict in Ukraine, a file in which Beijing presents itself as a mediator despite its proximity to Moscow. Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang, in a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, on Thursday urged Kiev and Moscow to resume work. “as soon as possible” Peace talks, according to Beijing. A cease-fire call immediately agreed to by the United States, which amounted to consolidating the Russian advance and giving the Kremlin an opportunity to prepare for a new offensive.

The MiG-29 will help Ukraine to effectively defend its airspace

In Bratislava, Slovakia announced on Friday its decision to supply thirteen MiG-29 fighters to Kiev, after Poland announced the delivery of one to Ukraine. “The first batch” from four of these devices. these deliveries “It will help us to effectively defend our skies.”Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in a message of thanks to Slovakia on Twitter. “A flying alliance is being formed!” Finally, on the eve of the expiration of the international agreement on the export of grain from Ukraine on Saturday, the UN indicated that discussions on this topic continue.