Why Putin must answer for his crimes in Ukraine at the ICC

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address in Moscow on February 20, 2019. [ AFP]

In a year defined by conflict and bloodletting on a medieval scale, all people of goodwill must take heart in the latest efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. Switzerland will host a summit on June 15 and 16 that aims to build broad international support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals, which include full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine stretches into its third year, the world has been inundated with depressing images of bombed-out neighbourhoods and fleeing civilians. Amid this fog of war, many important stories have fallen through the cracks. One such woefully underreported story is Russia's abduction of 46 Ukrainian children that were then put up for adoption. This heinous act stripped the minors of their identity and roots. It also no doubt constitutes a war crime under international law.