On the Fourth Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

New York City Bar Association Statement

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the New York City Bar Association (“City Bar”) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the international rule of law and the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine and the rights of the Ukrainian people to security and self-determination. The City Bar continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s ongoing aggression. We reaffirm our prior statements condemning the illegal invasion and calling for accountability for the crime of aggression, war crimes, and other atrocities. We call on the U.S. administration and Congress to support Ukraine and its right of self-defense, including providing timely and necessary assistance, and engagement with multilateral efforts to ensure that Russian aggression does not succeed. We further recognize that any peace must be reached in accordance with international law.[1]

Four years into this illegal invasion, the humanitarian conditions for the people of Ukraine remain not merely dire, but catastrophic. Russia’s aggression continues to devastate communities and destroy critical infrastructure. Of particular concern are the systematic intentional attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Any intentional targeting of civilians constitutes grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and violations of International Humanitarian Law. We call on the Russian Federation to cease these acts. We support ongoing efforts to document these acts as part of the historical and legal record of this conflict, including the work of the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as a means to pursue accountability for these violations.[2]

International Legal Framework and the Necessity of a Just Peace

The City Bar underscores that Russia’s ongoing actions violate fundamental principles of international law, including the prohibition on the aggressive use of force (Article 2(4) of the UN Charter), the duty to resolve disputes peacefully (Article 2(3)), and the obligations to abide by the laws of armed conflict. We also recognize Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defense under international law and the right of Ukraine to seek and receive assistance from other states in its self-defense. We acknowledge and admire the resilience and effectiveness demonstrated by the Government and people of Ukraine in resisting this unprovoked aggression.

The City Bar further recognizes the ways in which the international community has consistently rejected Russia’s unlawful acts through various UN General Assembly resolutions, which create a framework for the legal predicates for peace. Resolution ES-11/1 (2022) condemned Russia’s aggression and reaffirmed Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. Similarly, Resolutions ES-11/2, ES-11/4 (2022), and ES-11/6 (2023) addressed humanitarian consequences, rejected unlawful annexations, and underscored the need for a just and lasting peace. Finally, Resolution ES-11/5 (November 14, 2022) affirmed the international commitment to reparations mechanisms.

In addition to the principles articulated in these resolutions, the City Bar recognizes that any credible and lasting peace in Ukraine must be lawful, non-coercive, and conform with international norms. We support a peace process that is consistent with these principles. Ukraine must freely and independently participate in negotiating the terms of any settlement. Peace initiatives that circumvent Ukraine’s political independence or implicitly reward aggression undermine international peace and security.

Accountability, Justice, and Reconstruction

The City Bar further recognizes that there can be no lasting peace and security without legal accountability. The City Bar supports ongoing Ukrainian, transnational, and international war crimes prosecutions.[3] Such processes are essential for seeking truth and creating a pathway for victim compensation. To that end, we support ongoing domestic and international investigations, including at the  International Criminal Court (ICC), including those addressing atrocity crimes and the unlawful abduction and return of children, and support additional efforts to establish fair and independent justice mechanisms to address violations of domestic and international law.[4] Furthermore, we support the pursuit of reparations and restitution for economic losses, environmental harm, and damage to civilian property, consistent with international law.

We also recognize that sustainable peace depends on strong legal institutions. While the immediate priority remains ensuring the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine, the City Bar also continues to support and work with partners in Ukraine to assist Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its legal and judicial institutions, including efforts toward improved institutional transparency and the rule of law. Strong, independent legal and judicial institutions are essential components of long-term stability and reconstruction under the rule of law.

Our Commitment

As members of the legal profession, we reaffirm our responsibility to defend the rule of law wherever it is threatened. To that end, we stand with Ukrainian lawyers, civil society, and institutions working to uphold justice under immeasurably difficult circumstances. We remain committed in our support of Ukraine and to the principle of a just peace under the rule of law.

About the Association
The mission of the New York City Bar Association, which was founded in 1870 and has over 20,000 members, is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world. www.nycbar.org