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What 17 March 2023 meant for Ukraine's allies
Summary
An ICC warrant, fighter jet pledges and a Hungarian vote date marked a day of movement in support for Ukraine and in NATO enlargement.
What changed on 17 March 2023? Several things at once: a court in The Hague named the Russian president in an arrest warrant, a second NATO member committed warplanes to Ukraine, and Hungary set a date for deciding on Finland's NATO bid.
A warrant from The Hague
On 17 March 2023 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin and for Maria Lvova-Belova, presidential commissioner for children's rights. The warrants concern alleged war crimes involving the abduction and forced adoption of children from Ukraine.
Fighter jets from Poland and Slovakia
The day before, on 16 March 2023, Poland announced that it would deliver four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, making it the first NATO member state to send warplanes. On 17 March 2023 Slovakia followed, announcing that it would donate its MiG-29 fighters and supply part of its Kub air-defence system.
Both pledges concerned Soviet-designed aircraft, and together they widened the military aid reaching Ukraine during the war.
Hungary sets a date on Finland
Also on 17 March 2023, Hungary announced that a vote on Finland's membership application would take place on 27 March. Máté Kocsis, the Fidesz parliamentary group leader, said Sweden's application would be considered at a later date. Finland and Sweden were therefore treated separately in Hungary's schedule.
A day in three strands
The legal, military and diplomatic developments were distinct. Taken together, they show the pace of the day: accountability for the treatment of Ukrainian children, additional aircraft from neighbouring states, and a timetable for one of the pending NATO accessions.
