Ukraine v. Russia : International Court Of Justice Concludes Hearing Ukraine's Application; Russia Refuses To Appear [LIVE UPDATES]

Ukraine: Your prima facie jurisdiction to hear this case is beyond doubt. Ukraine is asking you to exercise it by indicating the provisional measures that it has requested you to order. It is asking you to give substance to the conviction shared by a lot of those who stand here.

Ukraine: The dispute over the interpretation, application or the fulfillment of the Genocide Convention between Ukraine and Russia is not just about angry words. It is also forged in iron, in flames, in blood, in screams and tears.

Ukraine: Ukraine is resisting. Ukrainian men and women are suffering. Ukrainian men and women are dying. They could not have demonstrated their dispute with Russia more forcefully.

Ukraine: Unlike Russia, Ukraine considers as your Court did in the past in the Genocide case on the basis of the Genocide Convention, "it is clear that every State may only act within the limits permitted by international law".

Ukraine: It could have also filed an application under Art. IX of the Genocide Convention before this Court. Russia has strictly no right under the Convention to take military action that began on Feb 24, 2022. 

Ukraine: As for Russia, it could not have been unaware that its views were positively opposed by Ukraine. What Russia could do under Art. VIII of the Convention was to call upon the organs of the United Nations.

Ukraine cites ICJ judgement in Nicaragua v. US to argue that while each State makes its own assessment of the human rights situation in a third country, the use of force could not be the appropriate method to monitor or ensure the respect of these rights in the Convention.

Ukraine: Nothing in the Genocide Convention authorises a State to enter by force the territory of another State to prevent or punish genocide.

Ukraine agent quoting from the communique: Russia's claims are baseless and absurd. Russia's claims of genocide, its justifications for its lawless conduct are an insult to the Genocide Convention and to the work of the international community.

Ukraine agent refers to Feb 26, 2022 communique of Ukraine's Foreign Minister dismissing Russia's accusations of violation of the Genocide Convention as being baseless.