43 countries, including US, UK, EU nations, back Ukraine's application against Russia at UN court

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 43 countries, including the US, UK and EU member states, issued a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine's proceedings against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"We reiterate our support for Ukraine's Application instituting proceedings against the Russian Federation before the International Court of Justice under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which seeks to establish that Russia has no lawful basis to take military action in Ukraine on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations of genocide," the statement said.

Reiterating the importance of the proceedings, the countries urged Russia to "immediately suspend its military operations" in Ukraine, as ordered by the court on March 16.

Failure to comply with "the Court’s 16 March 2022 Order constitutes a further breach, by Russia, of its international obligations," they said, adding that they welcome once again Ukraine's efforts to ensure that international law is respected.

"In closing, we reiterate that Russia must be held accountable for its actions. In this regard, we consider that Russia's violations of international law engage its international responsibility, and that the losses and damage suffered by Ukraine as a result of Russia’s violations of international law require full and urgent reparation by Russia, in accordance with the law of State responsibility," the joint statement said.

It called on the international community to explore all options to support Ukraine in its proceedings before the ICJ.

The countries, which issued the joint statement, included Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Greek Cypriot administration, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the US.

Nearly 4,900 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war on Feb. 24, according to UN figures.