Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has violated our most fundamental international norms, challenged Ukraine’s sovereignty and subjected its population to mass atrocities. But with support from the United States and like-minded allies, the Ukrainian government has engaged in a coordinated legal challenge to the invasion — contesting its legal basis, collecting and analyzing evidence of crimes committed against civilians, and prosecuting perpetrators of war crimes. Yet, as Russia regroups and adapts its military tactics, there’s still much to be done to repel the invasion, shore up Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver justice to the Ukrainian people.

On June 28, USIP and the Ukrainian Embassy held a discussion of ongoing legal efforts to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver justice for the Ukrainian people. This event marked the celebration of Ukrainian Constitution Day, which commemorates the signing of the country’s constitution in 1996. USIP experts and Ukrainian officials were joined by U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack to discuss ways the United States and like-minded actors have supported Ukraine in holding Russia accountable.

Continue the conversation on Twitter with #UkraineUSIP.

Speakers

Ambassador Oksana Markarova, opening remarks 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States

Lise Grande, moderator
President and CEO, United States Institute of Peace 

Ambassador Anton Korynevych
Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Agent of Ukraine before the International Court of Justice in the Allegations of Genocide Case

Eli M. Rosenbaum 
Director, Human Rights Enforcement Policy and Strategy, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Ambassador Beth Van Schaack 
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State

Iryna Venediktova
Prosecutor General of Ukraine

Ambassador William B. Taylor, closing remarks
Vice President, Russia and Europe, U.S. Institute of Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

 

Related Publications

Asfandyar Mir on Why ISIS-K Attacked Moscow

Asfandyar Mir on Why ISIS-K Attacked Moscow

Monday, April 1, 2024

By: Asfandyar Mir, Ph.D.

ISIS-K’s recent attack on the Russian capital was, in part, intended to assert the organization’s growing capacity to inflict terror beyond its home base of Afghanistan. “By reaching Moscow, ISIS-K is trying to signal it has the geographic reach to hit anywhere in the world,” says USIP’s Asfandyar Mir.

Type: Podcast

Moscow Concert Hall Attack Will Have Far-Reaching Impact

Moscow Concert Hall Attack Will Have Far-Reaching Impact

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

By: Mary Glantz, Ph.D.;  Gavin Helf, Ph.D.;  Asfandyar Mir, Ph.D.;  Andrew Watkins

On Friday, terrorists attacked the Crocus City Hall outside Moscow leaving 140 people dead and 80 others critically wounded. Soon after, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist group, which is headquartered in Iraq and Syria, has several branches, including in South and Central Asia. Press reports suggest the U.S. government believes the Afghanistan-based affiliate of the Islamic State, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), was behind the attack. The Biden administration has publicly noted that it had warned the Russian government of the terrorism threat in early March in line with the procedure of “Duty to Warn.”

Type: Question and Answer

Global Policy

Angela Stent on the Terror Attack in Moscow

Angela Stent on the Terror Attack in Moscow

Monday, March 25, 2024

By: Angela Stent

While ISIS has claimed responsibility for the devastating terror attack in Moscow, Putin has baselessly tried to shift the blame to Ukraine, says USIP’s Angela Stent: “[Putin] wants to use this to increase repression at home … and also to pursue a more aggressive path in Ukraine.”

Type: Podcast

View All Publications