The United Nations’ highest court called on Russia to immediately halt its invasion of Ukraine, in a preliminary decision that is binding but may be difficult to enforce. 

The preliminary decision read by Joan Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), was unambiguous.

“The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on February 24, 2022, in the territory of Ukraine.”

She also addressed the widening humanitarian fallout of the war. 

“The Court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is taking place in Ukraine and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering. The Court is profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, which raises very serious issues of international law,” Donoghue said.

The ICJ judges voted 13-2 in favor of the ruling. The two opposing judges hail from Russia and China. 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the ICJ’s decision in a tweet, saying it amounted to what he called a “complete victory” for Ukraine in its case against Russia. He warned that ignoring the court’s order would isolate Russia even further.

The ICJ ruling is just a first take by the world court. While it is binding, it may only mark a symbolic victory for Ukraine, since it will be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce. 

Kyiv filed its case to the ICJ days after Russia’s invasion last month, challenging Russia’s claim the move aimed to halt a genocide of pro-Russian separatists there.

Russian representatives did not attend the court’s opening hearing last week. But Moscow argued the ICJ should not impose any measures and had no jurisdiction. 

The ICJ’s own ruling on both its jurisdiction and the merits of the case — much less on the case itself — could take months, or years.
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