The European Union has issued a strong warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, insisting that any peace deal in Ukraine must not include a pardon or amnesty for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
In an interview, EU Commissioner for Justice and Democracy Michael McGrath said Europe will firmly oppose any attempt to wipe the slate clean for Russia in negotiations aimed at ending the war.
According to him, granting impunity would not only betray millions of victims but also risk fueling future aggression.
McGrath stressed that early U.S. proposals appeared to include the idea of a full amnesty for wartime actions an approach he described as unacceptable.
The concerns stem from internationally documented atrocities, including the abduction of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children and devastating assaults on civilian populations in places like Bucha and Mariupol.
Ukrainian authorities say they have opened investigations into more than 178,000 alleged Russian crimes since the war began in 2022.
A recent U.N. commission also concluded that Russia committed crimes against humanity through drone attacks and the forced deportation of civilians.
McGrath emphasized that accountability is non-negotiable. The EU, alongside global partners, is working to establish a special tribunal focused on the crime of aggression, with the goal of ensuring that Russian leaders answer for their decisions.
We cannot abandon the rights of the victims, he said. Failing to pursue justice would be a historic mistake and an invitation to the next invasion.
