Everything to be forgiven? ICC says what happens to Putin's arrest warrant if ceasefire is reached
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian president (Getty Images)
The international investigation into crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cannot be halted by any political circumstances, and even potential negotiations will not lead to the closure of the cases, according to Euronews.
Proceedings at the International Criminal Court in The Hague may be paused, but they cannot be terminated.
The ICC explained that if countries begin peace negotiations, the UN Security Council could theoretically request a temporary pause, but such a decision would be limited in scope, and the case would still move forward and be brought to a conclusion.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan stressed that all existing warrants remain valid, including the arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
She noted that even when discussing a potential pause, it concerns only a temporary measure.
Legal framework
A pause is not automatic. According to Khan, the Security Council may only "ask the court to defer a case if it believes there is room for a peace agreement."
Because the ICC is not part of the UN system, it operates solely within its own legal framework.
"If an investigation is ongoing, we act according to our own normative base," Khan explained.
She added that the pursuit of justice must accompany any peace initiatives, because lasting peace is impossible without accountability. "There must also be the possibility of accountability," she said.
Context
In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin on suspicion of the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Warrants were also issued for five additional individuals suspected of other crimes committed in Ukraine.
The documents are valid in 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, meaning Putin can be detained if he enters any of these states.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov recently claimed that Jared Kushner’s involvement in contacts with Moscow has strengthened the US role in shaping potential parameters of a peace agreement on Ukraine, saying his presence complements the work of US envoy Steve Witkoff and adds predictability and structure.
Russia continues to use talk of potential negotiations as a pressure tool while showing no real intention to reduce the intensity of fighting. Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Putin’s claims of readiness for dialogue, addressed to US President Donald Trump, are not supported by the situation on the frontline.
