Betül Yürük
18 March 2023•Update: 19 March 2023
NEW YORK
US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine was "justified."
Biden said the ICC is not recognized by the US, but it "makes a very strong point."
He added that Putin "clearly committed war crimes."
"There is no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and we have been clear that those responsible must be held accountable," said National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson in response to a question from Anadolu.
"We support accountability for perpetrators of war crimes."
The Hague-based court issued early Friday arrest warrants for Russia's Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, commissioner for children's rights, who are accused of "unlawful deportation" and "unlawful transfer" of children from occupied areas of Ukraine.
The cases will be the first international charges since the conflict began in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
"We have all seen the war crimes and atrocities committed by Russian forces since the outset of this war," a State Department spokesperson said.
"The United States’ determinations regarding war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine are separate from the ICC’s independent decisions on matters before it. The Prosecutor’s evidence will ultimately be weighed by the Court."
*Michael Hernandez in Washington contributed to this story
