West Asks for Russia to Be Suspended from Interpol

The network of 194 member countries aims to facilitate the policing of international crimes. Ozan KOSE AFP/File
The network of 194 member countries aims to facilitate the policing of international crimes. Ozan KOSE AFP/File
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West Asks for Russia to Be Suspended from Interpol

The network of 194 member countries aims to facilitate the policing of international crimes. Ozan KOSE AFP/File
The network of 194 member countries aims to facilitate the policing of international crimes. Ozan KOSE AFP/File

Several Western countries, including the UK and the United States, have called on Interpol to suspend Russia from the international law enforcement organization, according to British Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The UK, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have requested "the immediate suspension of Russia's access to its systems", Patel tweeted on Sunday.

The grouping asked Interpol's executive committee to make a decision this week, reported AFP.

"Russia's actions are a direct threat to the safety of individuals and to international law enforcement cooperation," Patel added.

While Patel did not specify the reason for the request, Western allies have been seeking to diplomatically and economically isolate Moscow over its invasion of Eastern European neighbor Ukraine.

On Sunday, US chief diplomat Antony Blinken said Washington had seen "very credible reports" that Russia had committed war crimes during the incursion, particularly in the treatment of civilians.

At the UN Human Rights Council last week, members overwhelmingly voted to establish an investigation into allegations of abuses committed by Moscow's forces in Ukraine.

Interpol, a network of 194 member countries, aims to facilitate the policing of international crimes.



Putin Says He Hopes there Will Be No Need to Use Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the educational marathon at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the educational marathon at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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Putin Says He Hopes there Will Be No Need to Use Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the educational marathon at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the educational marathon at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments broadcast on Sunday that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen, and that he hoped it would not arise.
In a fragment of an upcoming interview with Russian state television published on Telegram, Putin said that Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion", Reuters reported.
Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russia from a state television reporter, Putin said: "There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons ... and I hope they will not be required."
He said: "We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires."
Putin in February 2022 ordered tens of thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine, in what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation" against its neighbor.
Though Russian troops were repelled from Kyiv, Moscow's forces currently control around 20% of Ukraine, including much of the south and east.
Putin has in recent weeks expressed willingness to negotiate a peace settlement, as US President Donald Trump has said he wants to end the conflict via diplomatic means.
Fear of nuclear escalation has been a factor in US officials' thinking since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Former CIA Director William Burns has said there was a real risk in late 2022 that Russia could use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.