We Should Not Grant Forgiveness to Putin for War Crimes, Says EU Commissioner

The initiative by Donald Trump to establish peace in Ukraine should not absolve Vladimir Putin of responsibility for the war crimes committed by Russian forces, stated EU Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, in an interview with POLITICO.

The official's comments reflect widespread concerns in European capitals that a preliminary draft of an American agreement included a promise of "full amnesty for actions taken during the war," alongside plans to reintegrate Russia into the global economy.

"I don't think history will judge kindly any attempts to erase the punishment for Russian crimes in Ukraine. They should be held accountable for these crimes, and this will be the European Union's approach in all these discussions. If we do so, allowing impunity for these crimes, we will sow the seeds for the next phase of aggression and the next invasion," McGrath noted.