Trump eliminates Biden-era position created to investigate 'Russian war crimes'
The interagency position was created to support the prosecution of alleged crimes connected to the Ukraine conflict. The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly eliminated a role within the Office of the Director of National...
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The interagency position was created to support the prosecution of alleged crimes connected to the Ukraine conflict.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly eliminated a role within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that was responsible for sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes.
Established through a bipartisan bill passed in 2022 in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the Intelligence Community Coordinator for Russia Atrocities Accountability Act was implemented as part of the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act.
Citing anonymous sources, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday that both the ICCRAA and the interagency working group it led have been dissolved.
Earlier reports indicated that the Trump administration had pulled back from collaboration with an EU-led initiative focused on investigating Russian nationals in relation to the Ukraine conflict, suspended a Justice Department program to train Ukrainian prosecutors on these cases, and closed an inquiry into claims that Russian authorities kidnapped Ukrainian children.
Two main priorities of the Trump agenda include cutting government spending on programs viewed as unnecessary and resolving the Ukraine conflict.
The efforts to end the conflict reportedly reached a significant turning point this week, as Washington anticipates responses from Kiev and European NATO members regarding a proposed compromise ceasefire deal before presenting it to Moscow. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned last week that the US could “move on” to other issues if the negotiations stall.
Neither Rubio nor Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who presented ideas last week at a meeting in Paris, will participate in this week’s discussions with Ukrainian officials in London, according to Axios. However, Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow for follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reports suggest that the US is proposing formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over the former Ukrainian region of Crimea, which voted to join Russia after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected this, insisting on Tuesday that Kiev’s claim to the peninsula is non-negotiable.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly eliminated a role within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that was responsible for sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes.
Established through a bipartisan bill passed in 2022 in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the Intelligence Community Coordinator for Russia Atrocities Accountability Act was implemented as part of the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act.
Citing anonymous sources, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday that both the ICCRAA and the interagency working group it led have been dissolved.
Earlier reports indicated that the Trump administration had pulled back from collaboration with an EU-led initiative focused on investigating Russian nationals in relation to the Ukraine conflict, suspended a Justice Department program to train Ukrainian prosecutors on these cases, and closed an inquiry into claims that Russian authorities kidnapped Ukrainian children.
Two main priorities of the Trump agenda include cutting government spending on programs viewed as unnecessary and resolving the Ukraine conflict.
The efforts to end the conflict reportedly reached a significant turning point this week, as Washington anticipates responses from Kiev and European NATO members regarding a proposed compromise ceasefire deal before presenting it to Moscow. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned last week that the US could “move on” to other issues if the negotiations stall.
Neither Rubio nor Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who presented ideas last week at a meeting in Paris, will participate in this week’s discussions with Ukrainian officials in London, according to Axios. However, Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow for follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reports suggest that the US is proposing formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over the former Ukrainian region of Crimea, which voted to join Russia after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev. Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected this, insisting on Tuesday that Kiev’s claim to the peninsula is non-negotiable.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
