Russian's invasion of Ukraine violated the international law and the basic principles of human decency. It's not because Ukraine posed a threat to Russia, but because the people of Ukraine chose a path of sovereignty, self-determination, democracy and for exercising rights that should be available to all people and nations. This illegal invasion in the heart of Europe also threatens the foundation of the international order and security.
The United States cannot send troops to Ukraine and help the Ukraine people because if the US intervenes there'll likely be a world war 3. The risks of conflict between two nuclear-armed powers are so great that virtually any rational leader should, in theory, seek to avoid one. With the United States and Russia controlling an estimated 90% of the world's nuclear warheads, it is very likely that the war will wipe half of the population. So I personally support President Joe Biden's efforts, in coordination with the US closest allies, to impose hard-hitting economic sanctions on Russia. Sanctions that impose a real price on Russian's autocratic elites.
When it comes to international law, the international law rules are not binding the way that laws generally are. There is generally a hierarchy to these laws, statutes and rules for example can't contradict a higher source of law. But there isn't an international hierarchy of law. Sovereign nations may agree on general principles of conduct but there isn't an international body that is superior to their own national laws.
The UN Security Council is the only international body that has the power to make binding decisions on all nations. The council has 15 members. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States. The five permanent members all have veto power over all UN Security Council matters. Now all of the world is remarkably united about Russia's war against Ukraine, it will still be difficult if not impossible for the Security Council to take direct actions against Russia. Most Security Council's decisions require a majority of the nine members plus consent of all five permanent member states. Russia, a permanent member, vetoed a Council resolution condemning its attack on Ukraine. China and India and the United Arab Emirates abstained from that vote. Unfortunately, as long as Russia is a a member of the UN Security Council, no resolution is going to pass.
Though I will say there is an interesting legal movement gaining some traction, which says that Russia is in fact NOT a member of the UN Security Council. The argument to that goes like this, The original member of the UN Security Council was the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union collapsed. Though it was succeeded by the Russian Federation, Russia just ASSUMED that it took over the spot that was originally created for the USSR. So some argue that without formalizing this relationship with Russia, Russia does not hold the seat that the former Soviet Union held in the Security Council. This seems a little bit farfetched, but we'll see if it gains traction in the future.
There is also the international criminal court or the ICC. It is empowered to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. 123 countries are ICC members, which means that these countries have given the ICC the authority to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by their nations or by anyone on their territory. The ICC doesn't have the power over countries that aren't a party to the treaty, however. The ICC cannot override the laws of any sovereign nation, it only exercises its jurisdiction when a country is either a unwilling or genuinely unable to investigate and prosecute war crimes. Though, that being said, neither Russia nor Ukraine have signed or adopted the Rome treaty and are not members of the ICC. So Russia cannot be prosecuted for the crime of aggression. However in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine submitted a declaration giving the ICC jurisdiction for crimes committed anytime on its property after February 2014. So Ukraine can ask that ICC prosecutors open a full investigation into Russia's actions.
All we can do at this moment is donate money for the organizations that are doing work in order to help the people of Ukraine, and pray for the courageous people of Ukraine, and for the Russian citizens who have declared their opposition to these attacks, and for all those who will bear the cost of a senseless war. #StopTheWar
The United States cannot send troops to Ukraine and help the Ukraine people because if the US intervenes there'll likely be a world war 3. The risks of conflict between two nuclear-armed powers are so great that virtually any rational leader should, in theory, seek to avoid one. With the United States and Russia controlling an estimated 90% of the world's nuclear warheads, it is very likely that the war will wipe half of the population. So I personally support President Joe Biden's efforts, in coordination with the US closest allies, to impose hard-hitting economic sanctions on Russia. Sanctions that impose a real price on Russian's autocratic elites.
When it comes to international law, the international law rules are not binding the way that laws generally are. There is generally a hierarchy to these laws, statutes and rules for example can't contradict a higher source of law. But there isn't an international hierarchy of law. Sovereign nations may agree on general principles of conduct but there isn't an international body that is superior to their own national laws.
The UN Security Council is the only international body that has the power to make binding decisions on all nations. The council has 15 members. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States. The five permanent members all have veto power over all UN Security Council matters. Now all of the world is remarkably united about Russia's war against Ukraine, it will still be difficult if not impossible for the Security Council to take direct actions against Russia. Most Security Council's decisions require a majority of the nine members plus consent of all five permanent member states. Russia, a permanent member, vetoed a Council resolution condemning its attack on Ukraine. China and India and the United Arab Emirates abstained from that vote. Unfortunately, as long as Russia is a a member of the UN Security Council, no resolution is going to pass.
Though I will say there is an interesting legal movement gaining some traction, which says that Russia is in fact NOT a member of the UN Security Council. The argument to that goes like this, The original member of the UN Security Council was the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union collapsed. Though it was succeeded by the Russian Federation, Russia just ASSUMED that it took over the spot that was originally created for the USSR. So some argue that without formalizing this relationship with Russia, Russia does not hold the seat that the former Soviet Union held in the Security Council. This seems a little bit farfetched, but we'll see if it gains traction in the future.
There is also the international criminal court or the ICC. It is empowered to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. 123 countries are ICC members, which means that these countries have given the ICC the authority to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by their nations or by anyone on their territory. The ICC doesn't have the power over countries that aren't a party to the treaty, however. The ICC cannot override the laws of any sovereign nation, it only exercises its jurisdiction when a country is either a unwilling or genuinely unable to investigate and prosecute war crimes. Though, that being said, neither Russia nor Ukraine have signed or adopted the Rome treaty and are not members of the ICC. So Russia cannot be prosecuted for the crime of aggression. However in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine submitted a declaration giving the ICC jurisdiction for crimes committed anytime on its property after February 2014. So Ukraine can ask that ICC prosecutors open a full investigation into Russia's actions.
All we can do at this moment is donate money for the organizations that are doing work in order to help the people of Ukraine, and pray for the courageous people of Ukraine, and for the Russian citizens who have declared their opposition to these attacks, and for all those who will bear the cost of a senseless war. #StopTheWar
Last edited by Bibian; Mar 11, 2022 at 05:26 PM.
the world is as beautiful as what you make it out to be
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