EU tells Trump: You can't pardon Putin for war crimes in Ukraine

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico (EU)

December 1, 2025 4:02 am CET


Donald Trump’s drive to secure peace in Ukraine must not let Vladimir Putin off the hook for war crimes committed by Russian forces, a top EU official has warned, effectively setting a new red line for a deal.

In an interview with POLITICO, Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for justice and democracy, said negotiators must ensure the push for a ceasefire does not result in Russia escaping prosecution. His comments reflect concerns widely held in European capitals that the original American blueprint for a deal included the promise of a “full amnesty for actions committed during the war,” alongside plans to reintegrate Russia into the world economy.

The Trump team’s push to rehabilitate the Kremlin chief comes despite international condemnation of Russia for alleged crimes including the abduction of 20,000 Ukrainian children and attacks targeting civilians in Bucha, Mariupol and elsewhere.

“I don’t think history will judge kindly any effort to wipe the slate clean for Russian crimes in Ukraine,” McGrath said. “They must be held accountable for those crimes and that will be the approach of the European Union in all of these discussions. “Were we to do so, to allow for impunity for those crimes, we would be sowing the seeds of the next round of aggression and the next invasion,” he added. “And I believe that that would be a historic mistake of huge proportions.”

Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-war-crimes-volodymyr-zelenskyy-ukraine/

[RazorbackExpat]

1. Bucha was a horror show

Mariupol and other places as well. Putin has brought so much death and destruction to the people of Ukraine, he must be brought to justice for his crimes.

[maxsolomon]

16. He should be an international pariah, unable to leave Russia.

He won't be. First, a trip to Turkey and gladhanding with Erdogan. China, India; neither of them GAF.

Then the G20.

[slightlv]

2. Am i reading this correctly...

That trump thinks he can use his American pardon power to pardon a leader of a foreign country for war crimes? If so, my god... how egotistical!

[2MuchNoise]

3. He thinks he is the king of the world.

[Bev54]

4. The US is not a member of the international court so how could they pardon Putin?

They have no say.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "The US is not a member of the international court so how could they pardon Putin?"

The ICC has charged Putin with a war crime and 45 could just threaten them (and their participant countries) with his illegal tariffs and sanctions and whatnot, to make them yield, kneel, and withdraw the war crime (and other) charges.

What might be instructive is to see how he threatens some of the levers of power in Israel to pardon Bibi.

[Bev54]

10. He could try but I don't think he realizes that the world is moving on without the US.

It might be a bit of a hit to them but like Canada, the rest of the world is negotiating free trade agreements with other countries to mitigate financial hits from the US. BCRICS is being used more and more by other countries and I do think the western countries are looking to be prepared should they need to turn away from the US dollar as well. More and more each day, the world is turning away so he can threaten but it may well mean nothing to others as they have been quietly negotiating with each other on trade and security with more and more deals being signed. I have read many economists warning that there should be considerations about turning away from the US dollar because of the instability of the government.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. BRICS will definitely benefit

and I have heard the rumblings of dropping the dollar peg.

I think countries are being cautious knowing that if we can get out of this nightmarish jam, there are term limits, this too shall pass, and another administration will come in. But we are going to be in a massive battle before that happens!

[Bev54]

13. Countries are not waiting, hoping for the US to come back. Unfortunately with the election of

Trump not once but twice and GW before him, the world has realized that the US is no longer the stable country it was after WWll. They are all diversifying their trade and looking to other "like minded" countries with the same values for security needs. The US is already left out of a lot of security sharing and that will only return on a case by case basis. No longer is the US considered to be long term stable when the citizens are still willing to elect idiots and imbeciles. There has been a major shift and unfortunately the US doesn't even realize it is happening because there is so much shit going on domestically, the international shift has been overlooked. Even in Canada, we have accepted that our relationship with the US will never go back to what it was.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Well when I mean "waiting"

I mean holding off on going "nuclear" with a complete cutoff, including pulling ambassadors (and diplomatic staff), etc.

[mountain grammy]

5. and the kidnapped Ukrainian children??

crickets!!!

[FakeNoose]

8. President Ursula von der Leyen spoke forcefully about the kidnapped Ukrainian children

This resounding speech that she gave a week ago on European television is quite informative. At the very end she says that they will not rest until all the kidnapped Ukrainian child are returned to their homes where they are wanted and loved. It's quite moving. I'm paraphrasing, but that is basically what she said.



Edit to add synopsis:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday that "borders cannot be changed by force" as discussions on a plan to end the conflict in Ukraine were underway in Geneva.

Speaking at the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, von der Leyen added that there "cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack." - 11/23/2025.

And link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1322&pid=97264

[Bayard]

11. I like that:

"Borders cannot be changed by force." I really hope Europe sticks to their guns on that. This is the way to go--Ukraine does NOT give up any stolen land, reparations will be paid, Ukrainian children are returned to their parents, and Putin is prosecuted, (and imprisoned,) for war crimes. That is the justice demanded, and other countries know its the only way to keep Putin from coming after them.

"Borders cannot be changed by force," is also a proclamation trump needs to pay attention to.

[mountain grammy]

14. Thank you

And thank goodness for her! 😢

[Icanthinkformyself]

7. "I don't think history will judge kindly any effort to wipe the slate clean for Russian crimes in Ukraine," McGrath said

That will depend upon who is writing the history. History doesn't have a chance if it's conservatives..

[mdbl]

9. So Dump can't pardon everyone outside the US?

Damn. He's been on a continual roll here until now. I don't think we have any criminals left in Fed prisons.