Russia has issued arrest warrants for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former President Petro Poroshenko, along with several other high-ranking former officials. The arrest warrants were updated by Moscow’s Interior Ministry to include President Zelensky, with the reason for the warrant being a violation of the Russian Criminal Code, although the specific offense has not been disclosed.
Russian state-run media RT suggested that the arrest warrants may be in response to unconventional tactics used by Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referring to Zelensky’s threats to destroy Russian infrastructure as “terrorist” in nature. The arrest warrants for former officials, including Poroshenko, are also linked to unspecified charges.
These developments come after arrest warrants were issued for former Ukrainian officials, including former Finance Minister Aleksandr Shlapak and former central bank chief Stepan Kubiv. Additionally, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Aleksandr Litvinenko, also faces an arrest warrant.
The actions taken by Moscow are likely to impact a planned peace summit set for June, as both sides remain entrenched in the conflict with Russia rejecting Ukraine’s demands to return occupied territory before negotiations. Despite Ukraine’s concerns about a ceasefire agreement allowing Russia to regroup for further incursions, Moscow’s forces continue to make territorial gains.
While the situation appears bleak for Ukraine, Western powers, led by the Biden administration, continue to support Zelensky. Aid for Ukraine has been increased, with bipartisan support securing an additional $60 billion in aid. Zelensky’s Chief of Staff has vowed to stand firm against Russia, indicating a continuation of the fighting.
Overall, the tensions between Russia and Ukraine are escalating, with no clear resolution in sight.
