President Volodymyr Zelensky known as on Monday for a world tribunal to analyze and punish Russia for its actions in Ukraine, which he described as conflict crimes.
“Today, Russian troops shelled Kharkiv using rocket artillery,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned in a video posted on his Facebook web page. “This is, without any doubt, a military crime. A peaceful city. Peaceful residential neighborhoods. Not a single military object in sight.”
He continued: “For such a crime, there needs to be a tribunal. An international one. This is a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for the murder of peaceful Ukrainian people. This is Ukraine. This is Europe. This is the year 2022. Evil, armed with rockets, bombs and artillery, must be stopped immediately.”
Mr. Zelensky proposed an array of penalties, together with closing airspace, ports and canals to Russian planes and ships. He additionally urged that Russia must be faraway from its everlasting membership on the United Nations Security Council, although the U.N. Charter accommodates no mechanism to do this.
But one other worldwide physique signaled motion. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court mentioned earlier Monday that he would pursue an investigation into the conflict in Ukraine, citing a “reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed.”
Speaking on the finish of the primary day of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Mr. Zelensky mentioned the talks would proceed although Russia stored attacking all through them.
“These negotiations took place against the backdrop of the bombing and shooting of our territory, our cities,” he mentioned. “Clearly, there was a coordination of attacks with the negotiating process. I would contend that in such a not-so-sly way, Russia is attempting to steamroll us.
“Do not waste time. We will not allow such a tactic. Real negotiations can only take place when one side is not attacking the other with rocket artillery in the very moment of negotiations.”
David Kurkovskiy contributed translation.