Kathrine Frich
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has had an active arrest warrant against Putin since 2023.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has had an active arrest warrant against Putin since 2023.
Putin’s Rare Trip to the United States
Vladimir Putin is scheduled to travel to Alaska on Friday, August 15, for a summit with Donald Trump, marking the first time in a decade the Russian president has set foot in the US.
The meeting is meant to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, though Ukraine’s own president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will not be present.
The location, Alaska, adds symbolic tension. it was part of Russia until 1867, and critics say it sends the wrong message.
Wanted Man Under an ICC Arrest Warrant
Since March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has had an active arrest warrant against Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
He is accused of unlawfully deporting at least 35,000 children from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia.
The charges include crimes against humanity, and they also extend to Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
Public Calls for Arrest on US Soil
The announcement of Putin’s Alaska visit has triggered strong reactions online, with calls for his immediate detention the moment he steps off his presidential plane.
Critics argue that giving Putin a diplomatic platform undermines international law.
One commentator wrote, “The only thing Trump should be doing is making sure Putin is arrested.”
Why Arrest Is Considered Unlikely in the US
The United States is not a member of the ICC and therefore is not bound to execute the arrest warrant.
Experts say Trump’s invitation almost certainly included assurances that Putin would not be detained.
Former military officials suggest that arresting the Russian leader on US soil could create an unprecedented diplomatic and security crisis.
The Risks of Detaining Putin Abroad
Russian leaders have made it clear that any attempt to detain Putin would be treated as a direct act of war.
Former president Dmitry Medvedev warned that such a move could lead to severe retaliation, including nuclear threats.
Analysts say that arresting Putin during his US visit could provoke an international confrontation within hours.
Where Putin Could Be Arrested Instead
The ICC’s jurisdiction extends to 125 signatory countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Australia, and Ukraine.
If Putin were to visit any of these nations, they would be legally obligated to detain him.
However, many governments fear political or military fallout and may hesitate to act, as Mongolia did in 2024 during his state visit there.
Alaska as a Symbolic Summit Location
Hosting the meeting in Alaska is seen by some as provocative.
The territory was part of Russia until it was sold to the US in 1867, and it remains a point of nostalgia in Russian culture.
Critics say holding talks there while Russia occupies Ukrainian land risks sending a message that borders can be redrawn through force.
Trump’s Silence on Arrest Demands
Donald Trump has not addressed the public calls for Putin’s arrest, focusing instead on his stated goal of securing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
His critics say excluding Zelenskyy from the talks gives Putin an advantage.
Supporters argue that face-to-face diplomacy could lead to a breakthrough, though past talks this summer have yielded no progress.
