Clinton warns against unaccountable Russia-Ukraine peace deal

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently spoke at the Cinema for Peace World Forum in Berlin. She emphasized the need for accountability in the ongoing Ukraine War. Clinton warned against any peace deal with Russia that fails to recognize those responsible for the invasion and war crimes. She stated, "There is no peace without justice; there’s no peace without accountability." Clinton's comments came ahead of a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has suggested that Ukraine should make territorial concessions to achieve peace. However, Clinton pointed out that Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine. This conflict escalated after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and subsequently invaded Ukraine in February 2022. During the event, Clinton also discussed a documentary titled "The Cranes Call," which focuses on war crimes in Ukraine. The film follows human rights lawyer Anya Neistat and researcher Solomiia Stasiv as they investigate and document abuses in Ukrainian towns previously occupied by Russian forces. Neistat shared updates on her investigations, highlighting challenges in pursuing justice against foreign perpetrators. Both Neistat and Clinton noted that the war crimes in Ukraine reflect a broader pattern of violence associated with Russian military actions in other regions. Clinton warned that failing to address these issues could have long-lasting consequences for Europe and the U.S. Clinton emphasized the importance of telling fact-based stories to counter misinformation. She stated that the world is at a crucial point regarding truth in media, where powerful forces aim to reshape reality. She urged cooperation among media outlets to share accurate narratives and uphold democratic values amid the ongoing conflict.