Former Russian President issues stark warning to this European country if it arrests Putin

The arrest warrant issued last week by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Russian President Vladimir Putin might be seen as a step in the right direction for many.

Now, however, a threatening voice from Russia is speaking out, and it comes from none other than former Russian President Dimitri Medvedev. The now-deputy chairman of the Russian security council found clear words about what an arrest of Putin would entail.

Warning against executing the arrest warrant

While Medvedev believes this will never happen, should the ICC's international arrest warrant actually be executed, it would be seen as an open 'declaration of war' on Russia, according to him. Medvedev said to reporters in a video on his Telegram channel on Thursday 23 March:

Has the threat of a nuclear conflict passed? No, it has not passed. It has increased. Each day when foreign weapons are delivered to Ukraine ultimately brings this same nuclear apocalypse closer…

With regard to statements made by German Justice Minister Marco Bushman that the arrest warrant would be executed as soon as Putin set foot on German soil, Medvedev asks whether Bushman is even aware of the consequences of this action:

Let’s imagine – obviously this situation will never be realised – but nevertheless let’s imagine that it was realised: The current head of the nuclear state went to a territory, say Germany, and was arrested.

What would that be? It would be a declaration of war on the Russian Federation. And in that case, all our assets – all our missiles et cetera – would fly to the Bundestag, to the Chancellor’s office.

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Little hope for mending relations with the West

Moreover, Medvedev commented on Russia's deteriorating relations with the West:

Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history.

According to Medvedev, 'it’s useless to have talks' with the West and he has 'no illusions that we could communicate with them again any time soon'. He added:

It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs — they only understand the language of force.

While Medvedev believes that 'sooner or later the situation will stabilise and communications will resume', he expresses his sincere hope that by then, 'a significant part of those people (Western leaders) will have retired and some will be dead'.

This article has been adapted from Gentside DE.

Sources used:

BILD: 'Medwedew: Ukraine ist Teil 'Großrusslands''

ZDF: 'Russlands Ex-Präsident Medwedew: Festnahme Putins wäre eine 'Kriegserklärung''

Reuters: 'Any attempt to arrest Putin would be declaration of war on Russia, ally says'

AP News: 'Russia’s security chief blasts West, dangles nuclear threats'