World Court orders Moscow to immediately suspend its ‘military operations’ in Ukraine
Amidst Russia intensifies its ‘military operation’ in Ukraine, the United Nation’s top court in its verdict pronounced on Wednesday ordered Russia to immediately suspend its ‘military operations’ in Ukraine.
By a vote of 13/2, the International Court of Justice further called on both the parties concerned to ‘refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute.’ The two dissent votes came from Vice President Kirill Gevorgian from Russia and Judge Xue Hanqin from China. While, India’s judge, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, voted against Russia.
In its suit filed in the International Court of Justice, Ukraine contends that Russia manipulated the concept of genocide against the people of the Luhansk and Donetsk to justify its military intervention in Ukraine.
Welcoming the ICJ’s decision, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine gained a complete victory in its case against Russia at the International Court of Justice. The ICJ ordered to immediately stop the invasion. The order is binding under international law. Russia must comply immediately. Ignoring the order will isolate Russia even further.”
Echoing his support, over the verdict, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Today’s ruling of the International Court of Justice requiring the Russian Federation to immediately suspend the military operations in Ukraine fully reinforces my repeated appeals for peace. This war must stop.”
The ICJ in its order, according to the document released by the United Nations, ‘asked Russia to immediately suspend its attacks and cease all military operations as they were based on Moscow’s stated purpose of preventing or punishing Ukraine for committing genocide’.
In wake of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine on February 24, the Ukrainian government has been calling for the global support, with west already rallied in their support for Ukraine while imposing an unprecedented array of economic and other sanctions on Russia to bear the grunt of its action.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses US Congress
In another major news, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday addressed the United States Congress.
President Zelenskyy thanked the members of Congress for the support US has offered to Ukraine in their difficult times. While calling US for slapping more stringent sanctions on Russia, the President further requested for more military aid and no-fly zone request over Ukraine. During the address, President Zelenskyy proposed setting up an association, U24, United for Peace.
“A union of responsible states with the strength and conscience to stop conflicts. Immediately. Provide all necessary assistance within 24 hours. If necessary, with weapons. If necessary, with sanctions, humanitarian support, political support, money. Everything we need to keep the peace,” the Ukrainian news agency, Interfax, quoted the Ukrainian President saying.
President Zelenskyy further added that the association could also provide assistance to countries experiencing natural disasters, man-made disasters, or countries who fell victims to humanitarian crisis or epidemic
US President announces an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine
Hours after the Ukrainian President’s address to the Congress, announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine. According to the document released by the White House, the new $800 million assistance package includes:
• 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
• 2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• 100 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, and 400 shotguns;
• Over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds;
• 25,000 sets of body armor; and
• 25,000 helmets.
Further extending its commitment of providing unprecedented assistance to Ukraine, President Biden said, “The United States and our allies and partners are fully committed to surging weapons and assistance to Ukraine. And more will be coming as we source additional stocks of equipment that is ready to transfer.”
