Lithuanian FM: negotiations with Putin possible only in The Hague

The only negotiations with dictator Vladimir Putin can take place at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis said in an interview with De Tijd.

According to Landsbergis, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, the Russian dictator has no options left to negotiate a truce with the West.

"Now that the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Putin's arrest, I don't see any other place to sit down with him [at the negotiating table], except in The Hague," the minister said.

Landsbergis also noted that peace talks with Russia may end in a new war in the future. He noted that all previous attempts to pacify the aggressor led to the continuation of the confrontation.

"Therefore, it is extremely difficult to convince me and my compatriots that a conversation with someone in Russia about a ceasefire is not the beginning of another conflict in the future," the diplomat concluded.

On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a life-long arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

On March 18, U.S. President Joe Biden said that he considers the decision of the ICC to be justified.

On March 21, 40 countries backed arrest warrant for Putin.