In view of the Russian invasion, Zelenskyj called for a “large-scale” legal review. This can only be enforced by such a court. “There is no peace without justice for Ukraine,” said the Ukrainian president in a speech to diplomats.
The definition of a “crime of aggression” was established in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2010 and also includes wars of aggression. However, the ICC cannot independently investigate allegations of aggression because Russia has not ratified the Rome Statute. In March, however, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged kidnappings of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Moscow accused the US on Thursday of being behind the alleged drone attack. “The decisions about such attacks are not made in Kiev, but in Washington. Kiev only implements what is asked of it,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The day before, Russia announced that it had shot down two Ukrainian drones, describing the incident as a “planned act of terrorism and an assassination attempt” on President Vladimir Putin. Russian state television showed pictures of President Putin in the Kremlin on Thursday.
The US immediately dismissed the Russian allegations as lies. “We had nothing to do with it,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told US news channel MSNBC. Peskow would “simply lie here”. Ukraine has also denied the allegations.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said after the incident, security would be further tightened ahead of the May 9 military parade. On this day, Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany, specifically with a parade in Moscow’s Red Square.
In view of recent drone attacks, the Russian Foreign Ministry spoke of an unprecedented wave of “sabotage” in Ukraine. “Terrorist activities and sabotage by the Ukrainian armed forces are reaching unprecedented levels,” the ministry said. Moscow reserves the right to take retaliatory measures.
According to Ukrainian information, Russia used up to 24 combat drones against targets in Ukraine on Thursday night. 18 of them were shot down, said the head of the Kiev military administration, Serhiy Popko. The capital has not experienced “such an intensity of attacks” as in the past few days since the beginning of the year.
