The Trump administration is ending U.S. involvement in an international war crimes investigation targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, shifting its focus toward diplomacy rather than continued legal action. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reorient U.S. foreign policy toward de-escalation and negotiation.
The U.S. will withdraw from the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) by late March, according to Eurojust, the European Union agency that oversees the group. The Biden administration had joined the initiative in 2023 in an effort to pursue legal action against Russian, Belarusian, North Korean, and Iranian officials.
Eurojust President Michael Schmid confirmed the U.S. withdrawal in an internal letter, acknowledging that without Washington’s backing, the group’s ability to pursue cases would be significantly diminished. European prosecutors, however, have stated they will continue their efforts despite the setback.
Separately, the Trump administration is scaling back the Justice Department’s War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT), an initiative created under Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022. WarCAT had been assisting Ukraine’s legal system by providing training and logistical support for investigations into Russian war crimes.
While the administration has not publicly detailed its reasons for these decisions, insiders suggest the moves reflect Trump’s focus on diplomacy rather than legal maneuvers that could escalate tensions. Unlike the Biden administration’s strategy of pursuing legal action against foreign leaders, Trump’s approach seeks to reduce hostilities through direct negotiations.
The decision has already sparked criticism from European officials and left-wing activists who had supported Biden’s push for war crimes trials. However, the Trump administration remains focused on avoiding long-term entanglements in legal proceedings that could prolong international conflicts.
With this policy shift, the White House is expected to pursue diplomatic strategies aimed at stabilizing the region while minimizing U.S. involvement in extended legal disputes.
