Posted on 12/01/2025 3:56:51 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Donald Trump’s drive to secure peace in Ukraine must not let Vladimir Putin off the hook for war crimes committed by Russian forces, a top EU official has warned, effectively setting a new red line for a deal.
In an interview with POLITICO, Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for justice and democracy, said negotiators must ensure the push for a ceasefire does not result in Russia escaping prosecution.
His comments reflect concerns widely held in European capitals that the original American blueprint for a deal included the promise of a “full amnesty for actions committed during the war,” alongside plans to reintegrate Russia into the world economy.
The Trump team’s push to rehabilitate the Kremlin chief comes despite international condemnation of Russia for alleged crimes including the abduction of 20,000 Ukrainian children and attacks targeting civilians in Bucha, Mariupol and elsewhere.
“I don’t think history will judge kindly any effort to wipe the slate clean for Russian crimes in Ukraine,” McGrath said. “They must be held accountable for those crimes and that will be the approach of the European Union in all of these discussions.
“Were we to do so, to allow for impunity for those crimes, we would be sowing the seeds of the next round of aggression and the next invasion,” he added. “And I believe that that would be a historic mistake of huge proportions.”
Ukrainian authorities say they have opened investigations into more than 178,000 alleged Russian crimes since the start of the war. Last month, a United Nations commission found Russian authorities had committed crimes against humanity in targeting Ukrainian residents through drone attacks, and the war crimes of forcible transfer and deportation of civilians.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.eu ...
Euroweenies, you have no control or authority over us or our President.
putin is an evil man, imo.
He’d kill anyone or any number of human beings.
he’s truly evil, imo.
Neither do we. So what gives Trump the right to dictate to European countries what their future relations with Russia must be? He has no more right to dictate their future policies and relationships towards Russia than they have to dictate ours.
If Trump chooses not to consider Putin a war criminal, and to have the U.S. restore normal economic relations with Russia, that's his (and perhaps Congress's) call. And if the Europeans choose otherwise, that's their call.
Personally, I hope the Euros remember for the next 100 years what Russia did, and exclude them as much as possible. But that's their call.
He’d kill anyone or any number of human beings.
The problem is that the EU would rather have USA do all the dirty work while they stay on the sidelines.
They got away with it for a while due to Biden.
Now they realize that they have to pay for arms to supply Ukraine.
EU leaders should lead their armies into Moscow and arrest Pooty-Poo.
A reminder:
Asking AI . . . has Russia indicted any Ukrainians or Brits or other nationalities for war crimes?
You can do your own search.
Answer, yes. 92 different Ukrainian military have been indicted for war crimes and another 96 are wanted by the Russians for investigation of crimes against humanity.
They have captured, indicted and tried two Britons who were fighting in Ukraine as mercenaries. They, as well as a Moroccan were found guilty and sentenced to death by a proxy court in the new Russian oblasts.
Point being, that passage in the 28 point plan was not one way. There are many accused war criminals the Russia will seek to prosecute.
“So what gives Trump the right to dictate to European countries what their future relations with Russia must be?”
Well, just listen to you.
Trump is not dictating anything to any nation; he is trying to get Russia and Ukraine to stop the war.
The European nations can go pound sand.
Have you signed up to go fight in Ukraine yet? Didn’t think so. STFU.
has someone asked him to?
The article reports that Trump wants to pardon Putin for war crimes. The Europeans point out -- correctly so -- that Trump doesn't have the authority to do that. He's not President of the World.
Trump is entitled to negotiate any deal he wishes, but whether non-parties/non-signatories to that agreement -- like the Euros -- decide to go along with whatever he's negotiated is entirely up to them. And that includes things like pardoning for war crimes and the lifting of economic sanctions by those other countries.
If you total the monetary value of all support, weapons, financial aid, humanitarian aid, etc., the Euro’s have contributed far more to Ukraine’s support than has the USA.
Moreover, AT PRESENT (and assumed going forward), except possibly for an insignificant amount of Biden’s support still in the pipeline, the USA is NOT donating aid to Ukraine. Instead, we are actually profiting through the PURL initiative. Those are NOT “contributions”. Trump’s only practical leverage* would be to withhold the PURL sales, but there has been little indication he might, even after the “28 point plan” was roundly denounced in Europe.
*It has been suggested Trump could economically “nuke” any country trying to stick Putin with war crimes charges, but, in reality it’s almost the entire EU, plus some non-EU Euro countries. Tariffs and sanctions almost always have cost(s) blowback**, and Trump can’t afford for our economy to get blowback from actions against the entire EU+ at this time. Then the midterms truly would be lost.
**The costs may or may not be worth it in each case. In this one, with the likely result a Dem House and Senate = Trump & Vance impeached and quite possibly removed from office... and Jeffries as Pres? Yikes!
IMO, the whole war crimes bit as regards Putin is posturing anyway. The Euro’s can’t really physically enforce a conviction if he stays out of their countries. If Putin had wealth in the EU, it’s effectively gone anyhow.
Trump and Putin should combine forces like we did in WW II.
“And that includes things like pardoning for war crimes...”
There is a little technicality — he has to be convicted of war crimes first and he, of course, would be in Europe, as if it would amoount to a fart in a hurricane.
It certainly would enhance everyone’s lives, worldwide, if he were, according to posters on this site. And why should Zelensky be shielded from war crimes with the utter corruption going on in his government? His military was denied life-saving arms.
47’s Nobel ‘piece prize’ deal
Putin told 47 his terms, 47 told Witcoff Putin’s terms, Witcoff told Putin how to make 47 agreeable, Witcoff told 47 the terms of Putin’s deal, 47 agreed.
47 forces Ukraine to accept, 47 gets his prize, American Greatness dies forever.
No, he doesn't. Pardons can be issued before an arrest or conviction.
Conscription isn’t a war crime though. I never claimed Russia was a good military. IN fact, after the initial invasion I realized we were lied to about their capabilities so that we will spend more money on our military.
Having said that the original question is what War Crimes did Putin commit?
No, I'm not seriously asking that question, the point is, either way, the question is immature and irrelevant. Besides, the political battle / debate is just as important as the physical battlefield. Likely in the long run, more so. See: Vietnam.
Trump is not dictating anything to any nation; he is trying to get Russia and Ukraine to stop the war.
**Sigh**
If only it was that simple. :-(
The Poles very clearly stated they were being obligated without consultation in the 28 point Whitkoff plan.
Moreover, what possible agreement to stop the war would work without the Euro's on board? What kind of REAL (as in physical) security guarantees that the Ukies could agree to can be provided without the support of the Euros?
STFU.
That comment goes against everything our Founders stood for.
Is Europe still violating the sanctions on Russian energy...?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Even under Biden, the Euros spent more on Ukraine than we did. Just not directly on weapons.
Just to clarify, with Trump attempting to mediate, I agree he can’t promote prosecution for war crimes. The Euro’s would be best off letting it be a bargaining chip from their side because...
If Russia wants an amnesty provision in the plan, obviously they feel vulnerability on that subject.
I stated “Gee, since the Europeans have been *so* critical to Ukraine’s robust defense & offense, we definitely need to pay close attention to their demands!” yet you responded with a bunch of off-point, unsupported claims:
“If you total the monetary value of all support, weapons, financial aid, humanitarian aid, etc., the Euro’s have contributed far more to Ukraine’s support than has the USA. ...”
Again, I said *defense & offense*. There is absolutely no parity between the US and the EU in that respect.
Additionally, they talk big but are unwilling to purchase arms from the US - once again leaving the big lift to us.
It’s a crying shame that the war continues, but #1, Trump need not continue our involvement in Biden’s quagmire, and #2, Europe was and remains unwilling to do many, many things that would (and would have) precluded it or shortened it.
For instance, their unwillingness to cut off energy purchases from Russia, thereby denying the Ruskies of a substantial source of funding is yet another aspect.
There are soooo many facets to the matter, which is why I confined my initial comment to a specific aspect. Beyond that, I’m done with the subject.
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