Kremlin Says President Putin's Arrest Warrant Shows Hostility To Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said on Monday the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin was a sign of the "obvious hostility" that exists towards Russia, as well as towards the Russian President personally.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia reacted "calmly" and continued its work.

"We witnessed a number of clear hostile displays towards our country and towards our president," Peskov told a news conference, citing Reuters, March 20.

"We took notes, but if we take everything to heart, nothing good will come of it. Therefore, we look at this calmly, record everything with great attention and continue to work," Peskov continued.

The impact of the ICC's move to issue arrest warrants against Putin, as well as Russia's child rights commissioner, for the mass abduction of children from Ukraine remains unclear.

Russia is not a state party to the Rome Statute on which the court is based, meaning the warrant has no legal force in Russia.

However, this move could hinder Putin's travel to any of the 123 countries that recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.

Russia has not denied taking thousands of children from Ukraine since the start of what it called a "special military operation", but says it is doing so to protect the children.

Russia reacted angrily to the ICC's decision to grant an arrest warrant for Putin, describing it as "outrageous and unacceptable".