Ukraine leader wages political war on Russia on Europe trips

By MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken his campaign against Russia to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. Zelenskyy said during his unannounced visit to The Hague that he’s certain Russian President Vladimir Putin will be convicted of war crimes once the invasion of Ukraine is defeated. In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Zelenskyy also pressed the prime ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands on Thursday to send advanced warplanes so Ukraine can achieve “justice on the battlefield.” The Ukrainian president has successfully assembled significant Western military and political support for his country’s defense during the war with Russia.