skepticism in Ukraine after ICC arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin

The International Criminal Court on Friday March 17 issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin accusing him of being responsible for war crimes, for kidnapping children and illegal transfer of Ukrainians to Russia, a decision heavy in symbol. As soon as the news broke, Yana’s phone rang: “It was my father who called me. He was very happy, very happy. He told me that from now on we could arrest Putin. will it change for us?’ He told me to be patient.

>> War in Ukraine: the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Vladimir Putin for war crimes is “justified”, says Joe Biden

In Kiev, this announcement represents a form of recognition of the suffering endured since the start of the war, but there is still skepticism in the streets of the Ukrainian capital and very serious doubts about the concrete consequences of such a decision. . Her father is enthusiastic but Yana is more skeptical.

“I am realistic, I expect concrete actions, real actions, not just that we are indignant.”

And it was the tone Friday evening, in the streets of kyiv. The Ukrainian capital was bombed last week, the tributes to the dead soldiers are everywhere and in particular on a large wall of memory. Serhy has the impression of concretely undergoing Vladimir Putin’s war, but he does not believe in the end of the conflict, nor in a possible condemnation of the Russian leader. “To be honest with you, I am convinced that he is very well hidden somewhere, surrounded by his clan, that no one knows where he is and that he will never be arrested. It is a good decision but he does not there will be no concrete consequences.”

Serhy, like all Ukrainians he says, is considering a more drastic measure: for the Russian president to simply be “executed”.