Slovakia delivers first fighter jets to Ukraine

For former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, arresting Vladimir Putin abroad on the basis of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant would be a declaration of war on his country. He said so in an interview with the state news agency Tass published on Thursday. “Let’s imagine – of course this is a situation that will never happen, yes – but let’s imagine that it actually happened. For example, an incumbent president of a nuclear power comes to Germany and is arrested. What is that? A declaration of war on the Russian Federation,” said Medvedev.

An international arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine has been in place for Kremlin chief Putin since last week. However, Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

Regarding the words of Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) that Germany must implement the verdict and arrest the Russian head of state if he enters German territory, Medvedev said: “Is he even aware that this would be a casus belli, a declaration of war? Or has he neglected to do his homework?” In any case, the ICC decision is negative for relations with the West, which are already worse than at the beginning of the Cold War.

Medvedev stressed that Ukraine is part of Russia. His country cannot allow Ukraine to join NATO in order to start an operation against Russia.