Putin, Lavrov should face ICC trial for Russia’s war on Ukraine: German president

BERLIN – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov should be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their military aggression in Ukraine, Germany’s president has said.

“Everyone who is responsible for these crimes will have to justify themselves. This includes soldiers. This includes military commanders. And, of course, also those who bear political responsibility,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

Last month, the ICC chief prosecutor opened an investigation into the Ukraine war, saying there was “reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed.”

Steinmeier said the images coming from the Ukrainian city of Bucha are terrible and he “can hardly bear them.”

“They summarize once again what Russia’s criminal attack on Ukraine means, what suffering and death it brings, including expulsion. It makes you incredibly angry and sad,” he said.

The German president admitted he was shocked by Putin’s decision to declare war on Ukraine.

Steinmeier said he “didn’t assume that the Russian president would, in an imperial frenzy, risk the total political, economic, moral ruin of his country.”

Steinmeier had been a longtime and staunch advocate for European reconciliation with Moscow. However, in the wake of Russian actions in Ukraine, he has been compelled to revisit his position. Steinmeier voiced regret for his earlier position.