Ukraine demands ‘reparations’ from Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, alleging that Moscow launched an ‘imperialist war’ aimed at erasing Ukraine from the map and violating international law.
This request for reparations follows a proceeding initiated by Ukraine before the ICJ, in which it accuses Russia of unfairly using allegations of genocide to justify its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine claims that Russia violated several international conventions by conducting an act of aggression.
During its response before the ICJ, Ukraine argued that Russia sought to ‘annex’ parts of its territory, including Crimea, and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine. It also asserted that Russia targeted civilians and critical infrastructure, causing significant human and material losses.
Russia, on the other hand, denied these allegations and argued that its intervention in Ukraine was aimed at protecting ethnic Russians, and that Ukraine exaggerated the situation to justify a ‘invasion’ by Russia.
This case before the ICJ highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia and comes in the context of prolonged conflicts in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The ICJ’s final decision will have significant implications for relations between the two countries and for regional stability.
