The World Court will hear Russian objections to allegations of genocide in Ukraine today | Photo: Remko De Waal / AFP

The World Court will today hear Russia’s objections to its jurisdiction in a genocide case brought by Ukraine.

The case was first brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after Russia’s invasion in February of last year. In a preliminary decision, the ICJ ordered Russia to end military actions in Ukraine, supporting Kyiv’s accusation of Russia falsely applying genocide law as a justification for the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Russian-speaking population in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine were victims of genocide. While the World Court is unable to enforce its rulings, the statute of the ICJ allows states concerned by treaties or conventions to which they are party, to intervene in proceedings. In this case, states party to the 1948 Genocide Convention have filed for intervention, including 27 members of the European Union as well as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

After deliberating over Russia’s argument, the ICJ and concerned states are likely to deny Russia’s claim and put further pressure on Russia to end its offensive on Ukraine. In the near future, however, Moscow’s offensive shows little signs of stopping, and recent conversations between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin indicate a military exchange between the two countries which may further fuel Russia’s war ambitions.