A bridge that was destroyed across the Siverskyi–Donets River in Bogorodychne (Ukraine), recently retaken. Photo Credit: AP
According to the government, the U.K. will host a meeting with justice ministers in March in order to discuss ways to help the International Criminal Court investigate alleged war crime in Ukraine.
The ICC based at The Hague is currently investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, is expected to attend the March meeting with ministers around the globe, London announced.
In December, Mr. Khan urged the international community and demanded that the ICC probe be funded. He stated: “We need to have the tools to do this job.” These tools are not available to us.”
According to the U.K. government, the meeting was intended to “increase the global financial and practice support offered to the ICC” and to coordinate efforts to ensure that it has everything it needs to conduct investigations and prosecute those responsible.
Dominic Raab (Deputy Prime Minister) will host the meeting. He said that participants will discuss how they can help gather information, share evidence, and support victims.
“Russian forces must know that they cannot act in impunity, and we will support Ukraine until justice is served,” Mr. Raab stated.
He stated that the international community must support the ICC to ensure war criminals are held accountable for the atrocities they’re committing.
Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yeilgoz-Zegerius was the co-host of the meeting. He stated that the participants would “coordinate to ensure that support for the ICC or the Ukrainian authorities”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated in December that Russia could not be tried by the ICC for the “leadership crime” of aggression. She needed a resolution from the United Nations Security Council, which Moscow would immediately veto.
Instead, she proposed that a U.N.-backed court be established to prosecute the Russian leadership in the “crime against aggression” for its invasion and occupation of Ukraine.
Josep Borrell, EU’s chief of foreign policy, stated last month that Russia’s massive missile attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure were “war crimes and barbaric.” All responsible will be held accountable.
