LONDON—Justice ministers from around the world will meet in London to expand the support being offered to the International Criminal Court’s investigation of alleged war crimes in Ukraine, the British government announced on Saturday.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan will attend a March meeting hosted by British Attorney General Dominic Raab and Dutch Attorney General Dylan Jesirgoz Zegerius, according to a statement.
Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Raab said: “Almost a year after the invasion, the international community is urging the ICC to hold war criminals accountable for the atrocities we are witnessing. support must be given.
The conference aims to increase global financial and practical support for the ICC and coordinate efforts to ensure it has everything it needs to conduct investigations and prosecute those responsible. Yes, the statement said.
Calling its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation”, Russia denies targeting civilians and other war crimes. Ukraine and the West argue that their claim that Moscow is an imperial-style war of occupation cannot be justified.
The UK has provided Kyiv with £2.3bn ($2.78bn) of military aid and has stood firm in its support for Ukraine.
Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire on the Ukrainian frontline on Friday. Kyiv has refused to comply with the Russian government’s order to cease firing due to a unilateral ceasefire.
Khan of the ICC launched an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine last year. According to legal experts, the court’s jurisdiction over aggression applies only to member states and countries that have agreed to that jurisdiction, such as Ukraine, not Russia. Moscow does not recognize courts.
“What is clear to us is that these crimes can go unpunished,” said Yesirgoz Zegerius, who said the reports and images coming out of Ukraine were “terrifying.”
