Ukraine Urges Brazil: Arrest Putin at G20 Summit

Ukraine's top prosecutor urges Brazil to arrest President Vladimir Putin if he attends the G20 summit. An ICC warrant accuses Putin of war crimes. Russian officials deny these allegations, dismissing the warrant as invalid. Brazil, as an ICC member, is urged to enforce it.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General has made an urgent plea to Brazil, highlighting the potential attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit. Andriy Kostin, the Ukrainian prosecutor, insists that Brazilian authorities should execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for Putin's arrest, should he appear.

The ICC issued the warrant in March 2023, charging Putin with the war crime of deporting children amid Russia's continued military actions in Ukraine—a claim Russia has consistently denied. Despite these serious charges, the Kremlin has labeled the ICC's actions as 'null and void,' stating there is no commitment yet on Putin's potential attendance at the meeting.

Kostin emphasizes the importance of international unity in holding leaders accountable for alleged crimes and sees potential non-action by Brazil as a dangerous precedent. Meanwhile, Brazil has yet to confirm any details regarding Putin's visit, maintaining their official invitation for the summit in Rio de Janeiro this November.

(With inputs from agencies.)