The Ministry of Justice has informed European officials that the United States withdraws from a multinational group created to investigate leaders responsible for the conquest of Ukraine, including President Vladimir F. Putin from Russia, according to a letter sent to the members of the organization on Monday.
The decision to withdraw from the International Center to try the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which the Biden administration joined In 2023It is the latest indication of the Trump administration from the commitment of President Joseph R. Biden Junior, with the accountability of Mr. Putin personally about the crimes committed against the Ukrainians.
The group was held accountable for the leadership of Russia, along with its allies in Belarus, North Korea and Iran, responsible for a group of crimes – It was defined as an aggression Under international law and treaties that violate the sovereignty of another country and do not start self -defense.
“The American authorities have informed me that they will conclude their participation in ICPA” by the end of March. Michael Schmid, head of the group’s parental organization, wrote the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice, known as Eurojust, in an internal message obtained by the New York Times.
He added that the group remains “fully committed” to maintain the accountability of “those responsible for the basic international crimes” in Ukraine.
The United States was the only country outside Europe that sends the Public Prosecutor to The Hague to work with investigators from Ukraine, the Baltic countries, Poland, Romania and the International Criminal Court.
The department spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night.
The Trump administration also works to reduce the work of the administration War crime accounting teamThe one that was established in 2022 by the Prosecutor at the time, MERRICK B. Garland, with experienced general prosecutors. It was aimed at coordinating the efforts of the Ministry of Justice to hold the Russians accountable for the atrocities committed in the aftermath of the full invasion three years ago.
“There is no place to hide for war criminals,” Mr. Garland said in the announcement of the unit organization.
He added that the administration will follow every means of accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. “
During the Biden administration, the team, known as Warcat, focused on an important support role: providing prosecutors in Ukraine and law enforcement with logistical assistance, training and direct assistance in providing charges of war crimes committed by the Russians to Ukraine Courts.
The team brought one important case. In December 2023, American prosecutors used a basic system of war crimes for the first time in almost three decades ago to accuse four Russian soldiers in the absence of American torture that lived in the Jeresson region of Ukraine.
In recent comments, President Trump approached Mr. Putin during the clash with the President of Ukraine, Voludmir Zelinski – to some extent, indicates that Ukraine played a role in provoking brutal and illegal military incursions into Russia.
“You should never start it,” said Mr. Trump in February, referring to Ukraine leaders. “You could have a deal.” Continue in a post Social mediaMr. Zelinski described “a dictator without elections” and says he “did a terrible job” in his position.
The Trump administration has not given any reason to withdraw from the investigation group other than the same interpretation of the two organizations and other politics: the need to republish resources, according to the persons familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of not disclosing his identity because they were not allowed to discuss moves publicly.
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