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The Case for Vladimir Putin
Recent events have led me to re-examine the legitimacy of Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Russia’s “Special Military Operation” launched against Ukraine in February 2022 has been described as “unprovoked”, “disgusting”, “outrageous”, “immoral” — and above all, “ILLEGAL”.
Even commentators and analysts who can bring themselves to see Putin’s point of view still have to frame their opinions with the acknowledgment that even if Putin’s actions were “logical” from the Russian perspective, they were nonetheless contrary to international law.
I also found myself in this latter camp: while I could sympathise with Putin’s motivations for invading, I nonetheless had to admit that invading another sovereign country is, at its base, ILLEGAL.
The ICC “finally” issues an arrest warrant for Putin — but for what?
The recent decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Vladimir Putin for breaking international law has led me to re-examine my assumptions.
Why, I asked, has it taken them so long to declare that Putin has violated international law, and why are…