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Putin Expected to Meet Trump in Hungary10/17 06:14
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to
Hungary soon for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on ending the war in
Ukraine -- despite the Russian leader facing an International Criminal Court
arrest warrant.
Putin is wanted by the court on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for
alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the
conflict triggered by Moscow's invasion of its neighbor.
The court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, relies on other
countries to arrest suspects. It seems unlikely to get any cooperation from
Hungary, which earlier this year rolled out the red carpet for Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also is wanted by the ICC over allegations of
crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu vehemently denies the
charges.
After hosting Netanyahu, Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbn
said in April that his country would begin the process of withdrawing from the
court.
The International Criminal Court in a nutshell
The court was set up in 2002 and aims to hold leaders and senior officials
accountable for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. It has 125
member states, but three major global powers -- the United States, Russia and
China -- are not members. Ukraine officially joined the court in January.
More than 900 staff work for the court that has a budget this year of just
over 195 million euros ($228 million).
In an indication of the problems it has getting suspects arrested, judges
have issued warrants for 61 people and 30 remain at large.
The ICC is a court of last resort, meaning it only takes on cases when other
countries' legal systems are unable or unwilling to prosecute suspects.
The United States and Russia both oppose the court
Trump's administration has slapped sanctions on the court's chief
prosecutor, Karim Khan, some ICC judges and Khan's two deputies. Trump accuses
the court of "illegitimate and baseless actions" targeting America and Israel.
Trump previously sanctioned Khan's predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, during his
first term in the White House. The Biden administration subsequently lifted
those sanctions.
Russia also rejects the court's authority and has issued a warrant for Khan
and the ICC judge who signed Putin's warrant.
Putin has already traveled overseas since the warrant was issued in 2023,
including to ICC member state Mongolia. He's also traveled to China and North
Korea, which are not court members.
Countries that have left the court
The only other countries to have left are Burundi and the Philippines, whose
former president, Rodrigo Duterte, is in custody at the court's cell block in
The Hague after he was arrested on charges of crimes against humanity linked to
his government's deadly crackdown on drugs.
Last month, ruling military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger said that
the three African nations also are withdrawing from the court, accusing it of
what they say is selective justice.
ICC prosecutor is on leave amid ethics probe
Khan has stepped down pending the outcome of an investigation into
allegations of sexual misconduct. He has categorically denied accusations that
he tried for more than a year to coerce a female aide into a sexual
relationship and groped her against her will.
No date has been set for the investigation to be completed.
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