Ukraine has reminded Turkmenistan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his visit to the Central Asian country.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all nations, including Turkmenistan, to recognize Putin as a war criminal due to his alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
In a statement released, the ministry emphasized that Putin and other Russian leaders are responsible for a variety of crimes committed during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
These include acts of aggression and war crimes that have caused immense suffering to the Ukrainian people.
The ministry urged countries that “value human life, respect international law, and uphold the UN Charter” to refrain from participating in joint events with Putin, further stating that such engagement with him undermines justice.
Ukraine also reiterated the importance of supporting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-step peace formula, introduced during the 2022 G20 summit in Indonesia.
The plan, Kyiv argued, remains the most viable solution for ending Russian aggression and restoring lasting peace in Europe.
The Ukrainian government’s statement comes as Putin prepares to visit Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, to participate in a forum commemorating the 300th anniversary of renowned Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy.
Ukraine sees this visit as an opportunity to raise awareness of the ICC’s ongoing arrest warrant for Putin.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of overseeing the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The charges are part of broader allegations related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022 under the guise of a “special military operation.”
Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrant, citing war crimes committed in the context of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territories.
Despite the ICC’s ruling, Russia has dismissed the allegations.
