Could Vladimir Putin Be Arrested in Alaska?

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to meet President Donald Trump in Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the war in Ukraine on Friday, one question is ricocheting across social media: Could the Russian leader, who is under indictment at The Hague, theoretically be arrested the moment he sets foot on U.S. soil?
Putin's arrival in Alaska on August 15 will mark his first visit to the United States in a decade and his first non-UN visit since 2007. The summit is expected to place Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage starting about 11:30 a.m. local time.
Putin's visit has sparked a wave of calls for his arrest. Social media users and experts alike have urged the U.S. to act, but under both international and domestic law, it has no obligation to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against the Russian leader.
What Has the ICC Accused Vladimir Putin of Doing?
On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights. The court alleges they are responsible for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia—acts defined as war crimes under international law.
The charges claim Putin either directly ordered the deportations or failed to prevent them as Lvova-Belova's superior.
Why the US Wouldn't Arrest Putin Despite ICC Warrant
Despite the accusations, U.S. law provides no grounds to detain Putin. The U.S. signed the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, under President Bill Clinton in 2000, but never ratified it. In 2002, President George W. Bush withdrew the U.S. as a signatory entirely.
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned Sputnik agency Russian President Vladimir Putin disembarks his plane as he arrives in Yakutsk on June 18, 2024.
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned Sputnik agency Russian President Vladimir Putin disembarks his plane as he arrives in Yakutsk on June 18, 2024.
Photo by Sergei KARPUKHIN / POOL / AFP
Since then, successive administrations—from Barack Obama to Donald Trump and Joe Biden—have kept the U.S. outside the ICC's jurisdiction. Trump went a step further, sanctioning ICC officials and openly discrediting the court's legitimacy.
Russia has similarly rejected the ICC, calling the warrant politically motivated and threatening symbolic retaliation. Neither Moscow nor Washington recognizes the authority of The Hague-based tribunal.
What Countries Are Members of the International Criminal Court?
As of mid-2025, 125 countries are parties to the Rome Statute. These include:
All nations in South America
Nearly all of Europe
Most of Oceania
About half of Africa
Notably absent from the list are the United States, Russia, China, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
How the ICC Enforces Arrest Warrants—And Why It Often Falls Short
The ICC lacks its own enforcement arm. It relies entirely on its 125 member states to carry out arrests and transfer suspects to The Hague. If a nation is not party to the Rome Statute—like the U.S. or Russia—the court must depend on voluntary cooperation, which typically doesn't materialize.
Even among ICC signatories, enforcement can be inconsistent. In 2024, Mongolia—an ICC member—hosted Putin during an official visit and failed to arrest him. The court reprimanded Mongolia, but no punitive action followed. It's part of a broader trend that has undercut the ICC's authority in recent years.
Netanyahu's Parallel Legal Shadow
Putin isn't the only sitting leader facing prosecution at The Hague. In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court alleges war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Israel's military operations in Gaza, including the use of starvation and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
An honor guard greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his visit with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on April 3 in Budapest. Orbán invited Netanyahu despite an outstanding arrest warrant for him from the...
An honor guard greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his visit with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on April 3 in Budapest. Orbán invited Netanyahu despite an outstanding arrest warrant for him from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza. During the visit, Hungary announced its withdrawal from the ICC. Orbán later called it 'political' and 'no longer an impartial court.' More
Janos Kummer/Getty
Netanyahu has called the charges "absurd and false," labeling the ICC's action antisemitic. Israeli President Isaac Herzog defended the country's actions, arguing that the court ignores Hamas' use of human shields and Israel's right to self-defense.
Like Putin, Netanyahu has faced no consequences from ICC member states. During a 2025 visit to Hungary—a Rome Statute signatory—he was not arrested. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the warrant "would have no effect" and later announced Hungary's intent to leave the ICC.