Explaining complex things in simple words: POW swap, ICJ ruling, EU summit decision

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.   

1. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS

On January 31, as a result of another exchange, 207 Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity.

▪ Work on the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity does not stop. This is the second major exchange in 2024.

▪ Ukraine is grateful to the United Arab Emirates for the help and assistance in organizing this exchange.

▪ Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine, 3,035 people have been returned from captivity. According to the Coordination Headquarters, more than 8,000 Ukrainians remain in Russian captivity.

▪ Among the prisoners released on January 31, there are no people from the list of the 65 Ukrainians who allegedly died on the plane on January 24 in the Belgorod region, published by Russia.

▪ Ukraine will seek to find out the fate of prisoners of war, whom Moscow has unprovenly declared dead on board the IL-76.

2. JUDGMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

On January 31, the International Court of Justice announced the final decision in the case on the claim of Ukraine against the Russian Federation in 2017 for violation of international conventions for the suppression of the financing of terrorism and the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.

▪ The International Court of Justice partially upheld Ukraine's claim and found Russia guilty of violating certain articles of both international conventions.

▪ The court found that Russia had not investigated the facts of financing terrorism in the east of Ukraine, destroyed Ukrainian-language education in Crimea, and unlawfully banned the Mejlis, the national representative body of the Crimean Tatar people.

▪ The legal team of Ukraine in the International Court of Justice proved its skills by adapting the claims to UN conventions, which are inflexible and isolated from the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The chances of success were not guaranteed from the start.

▪ Despite the fact that the Court formally rejected a number of charges against the Russian Federation and did not award compensation, this is still a historic achievement for Ukraine in the legal sphere.

▪ Judgments of the International Court of Justice are binding on all member states and have higher legal force than resolutions of the General Assembly, many of which have already been adopted in favour of Ukraine earlier.

▪ On February 2, the International Court of Justice will announce an interim decision (on admissibility for consideration) on another claim of Ukraine against the Russian Federation — for violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Genocide.

▪ Ukraine uses all legal formats to fight the aggressor. In addition to the International Court of Justice, cases against the Russian Federation and its officials are also considered by the ECHR, the ICC, and a number of other judicial institutions, in accordance with their competence.

3. DECISION OF THE SPECIAL EU SUMMIT

On February 1, the EU Special Summit is considering amendments to the multiannual budget for 2024-2027, which include the creation of a EUR 50 bln Ukrainian Fund.

▪ The EU is returning to the issue of allocating EUR 50 bln to Ukraine after a positive decision was blocked by Hungary at a meeting in December last year.

▪ Ukraine expects that this time, a positive decision will be adopted by all 27 EU member states. This financial assistance is critical to maintaining the resilience of our country in the face of the full-scale aggression.

▪ Ukraine and partners have done serious preparatory work to get a positive result this time. There were fruitful negotiations with the Prime Ministers of Slovakia and Hungary in Uzhhorod.

▪ The EU has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to reach consensus on issues of support for Ukraine. In particular, at a meeting in December, all member states approved the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security