Ukraine news: Will UN’s ICJ hear Russia genocide case? [Video]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands –

The United Nations’ top court said Friday it has jurisdiction to rule on a request by Ukraine for a declaration that Kyiv is not responsible for genocide, but not on other aspects of a Ukrainian case against Russia.

The two countries have at various times accused each other of committing genocide. Ukraine filed its case at the International Court of Justice just days after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, alleging that Moscow used trumped-up claims of genocide to justify its attack that unleashed Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.

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But the court said it could not rule on that issue. Instead, it will rule on whether Ukraine violated the convention — as Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to justify the invasion. A final, legally binding decision is likely still years away.

“In the present case, even if the Russian Federation had, in bad faith, alleged that Ukraine committed genocide and …