The Trump administration is formally withdrawing from an international effort to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes, signaling a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward diplomacy and peace negotiations rather than prolonged legal battles.
The U.S. will end its involvement in the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) by late March, according to a letter from Eurojust, the European Union agency overseeing the group. The Biden administration had joined the ICPA in 2023 to push for criminal cases against Russian, Belarusian, North Korean and Iranian leaders over their roles in the war in Ukraine.
Eurojust President Michael Schmid confirmed the U.S. exit, acknowledging that without Washington’s support, the group’s ability to move forward with prosecutions would be severely limited. European officials, however, have pledged to continue their work despite the setback.
In a separate but related move, the Trump administration is scaling down the Justice Department’s War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT), which was established under then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022. WarCAT had been assisting Ukraine’s legal system in gathering evidence and prosecuting Russian officials accused of war crimes.
The administration has not provided a detailed explanation for its withdrawal, but officials say the move aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of reducing U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and redirecting resources toward diplomatic efforts. Unlike Biden, who prioritized legal action against Russian leaders, Trump is focused on de-escalating tensions and negotiating a resolution to the conflict.
Critics, particularly in Europe, have expressed concerns that the withdrawal will undermine efforts to hold Russian officials accountable. However, Trump’s administration is prioritizing diplomatic engagement over legal warfare, arguing that a settlement is more likely to bring stability to the region.
As the U.S. shifts course, the administration’s next steps in handling relations with Russia, Ukraine and European allies will be closely scrutinized.
