Arrest warrant issued against Russian President Putin

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The ICC has accused Putin of war crimes. These crimes include illegally sending children from Ukraine to Russia.

The warrant states that the crimes were committed in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion.

However, Russia has denied allegations of war crimes during the attack.

What did Russia say?

Reacting to the arrest warrant, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said it had "no significance".

"The judgments of the International Criminal Court have no legal meaning for our country," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel.

What will be the effect on Putin?

In this case, nothing special will likely happen. The ICC has no power to arrest suspects.

It can exercise its jurisdiction only in its own member countries, but Russia is not one of those countries.

However, after this President Putin may be influenced in other ways. They may be unable to go on international trips.

The ICC said in a statement that it had "substantial evidence" that Putin had committed criminal acts directly and that he had committed these crimes in concert with others.

They have also been accused of failing to use their powers to prevent the deportation of children.

What did the president of the United States say?

"I think it's justified," US President Joe Biden said of the ICC's move.

He said the US is not part of the ICC "but I think it's a very important thing."

"Obviously they committed a crime," Joe Biden said.