The International Court of Justice in The Hague, the UN’s highest court, on Wednesday ordered Russia to immediately cease its military operations in Ukraine. The court had been notified by Kyiv, but Moscow boycotted the hearings and rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction over the case. Although the Court’s verdicts are binding, the international court has no executive powers to effectively enforce its rulings. Also on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the US Congress via video call, again calling for support for the security of his country’s airspace, for humanitarian purposes. He pointed out that Ukraine still needed defensive weapons and aircraft to cope with the Russian invasion. Zelensky showed the Congress footage of the atrocities his people were going through and called for more support. „Today the Ukrainian people are defending not only Ukraine. We are fighting for the values of Europe and the world, sacrificing our lives in the name of the future” the Ukrainian leader said. US President Joe Biden confirmed on Wednesday that an additional 800 million dollar worth of military aid would be sent to Ukraine, including drones and anti-missile systems. On Tuesday, the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. Putin said on Wednesday that the military operation in Ukraine was a „success” and that Moscow would not let the country become a „bridgehead” for „aggressive actions” against Russia.
