In an unprecedented show of international support for Ukraine, 32 allied nations, including Canada, Australia, and nearly all EU countries, are set to present statements backing Kyiv's legal arguments on Wednesday.
This comes as Russia has called for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to dismiss a case of alleged genocide brought by Ukraine.
Led by Gennady Kuzmin, Russia's legal team contended that Ukraine's case is "hopelessly flawed" and contravenes the court's established jurisprudence. Kuzmin added that the case represents "a blatant disregard for the proper administration of justice."
Ukraine initiated the case under the 1948 Genocide Convention, ratified by both Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv argues that Russia's 2022 invasion was predicated on false claims of genocidal acts in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Russia's counterarguments hinge on the ICJ lacking jurisdiction over the case and the inapplicability of the Genocide Convention to regulate nations' use of force. Ukraine's legal team is expected to respond on Tuesday, likely urging the judges to proceed with hearing the merits of the case.
The court's panel of international judges will likely take weeks or months to decide whether the case can move forward. If it does, a final ruling is likely years away.
