International Court of Justice asks Russia to end war, a draft deal being planned

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ICJ asked Moscow to stop all military actions in Ukraine and said Russia should also revoke its 'claim' that Ukrainian citizens had requested Russia's military support.

 

New Delhi: On the day the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Russia to stop all military actions in Ukraine, reports are claiming both the countries in conflict drew up a tentative peace plan to end the ongoing war.

It has been reported that the 15-point draft deal includes a ceasefire and Russian troop withdrawal if Ukraine announces its decision to renounce or shun the NATO membership ambitions and "accepts limits on its armed forces".

The International Court of Justice on Wednesday (March 16) asked Moscow to stop all military actions in Ukraine tied to its February 24 invasion of the country. It said Russia should also revoke its 'claim' that Ukrainian citizens had requested Russia's military support.

In a 13-2 ruling, the court found it had jurisdiction over Ukraine's allegations that Russia falsely accused Ukraine of genocide to justify waging war on the former member of the Soviet Union. 

"The court is profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, which raises very serious issues of international law," ICJ president Joan Donoghue said during the announcement of the ICJ decision.

The order could have political consequences for Russia. Ukraine President Vlodomyr Zelensky has said that his country gained a complete victory in its case against Russia at the ICJ. 

"The ICJ ordered an immediate stop to the invasion. The order is binding under international law. Russia must comply immediately. Ignoring the order will isolate Russia even further," Ukraine President said.

However, a section of media experts said the ICJ order would do little to force Russia's retreat. Meanwhile, it is being argued that amid all of this, NATO, which is ten times more powerful than Russia, stands aside. Some say the western countries are offering 'little more than moral support and token supplies of obsolete weaponry'. 

One article in Ukraine's newspaper, 'The Kyiv Independent', says if Russian President Vladimir Putin is a rational actor, "he will not use nukes". But if Putin is not a rational actor, there can be no telling what will provoke him and what will not, the article says.
 

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