Whether or not Putin is a criminal for starting the Ukraine war is a matter of opinion. There is no consensus on this issue, and there are strong arguments to be made on both sides.
Those who believe that Putin is a criminal argue that he has violated international law by invading a sovereign country without provocation. They also argue that he has committed war crimes by targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Those who believe that Putin is not a criminal argue that he was acting in self-defense, as Ukraine was developing close ties to NATO, which Russia sees as a threat. They also argue that the allegations of war crimes are exaggerated or fabricated.
Ultimately, it is up to the international community to decide whether or not Putin is a criminal. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into the Ukraine war, and it is possible that Putin could be charged with war crimes. However, it is also possible that the ICC will not be able to bring Putin to justice, as he is the leader of a nuclear-armed country.
Here are some of the arguments that have been made on both sides of the issue:
Arguments that Putin is a criminal:
- He violated international law by invading a sovereign country without provocation. The United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force against another country except in self-defense. Russia has not claimed that Ukraine posed a threat to its security, so the invasion cannot be justified as self-defense.
- He committed war crimes by targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in war. There is evidence that Russian forces have targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings.
Arguments that Putin is not a criminal:
- He was acting in self-defense, as Ukraine was developing close ties to NATO. Russia sees NATO as a threat to its security, and it has long been concerned about Ukraine's potential membership in the alliance. Putin has argued that the invasion was necessary to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
- The allegations of war crimes are exaggerated or fabricated. Some have argued that the allegations of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine are exaggerated or fabricated. They point to the fact that there is no independent verification of these allegations.
The debate over whether or not Putin is a criminal is likely to continue for some time. It is a complex issue with no easy answers.
