The Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada) has voted to ratify the Rome Statute, officials said.
The ratification allows the country to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Voting
Notably, 281 MPs voted in favour of this decision.
A Separate Declaration
Ukraine is ratifying the Rome Statute with a separate declaration.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted bills to the Verkhovna Rada to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on August 15.
An Essential Step
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine has taken an essential step towards European Union membership, Ukrainska Pravda, an online news portal reported.
Ukraine has recognised the ICC’s jurisdiction in the past.
However, full membership of the court is a key part of Ukraine’s quest to eventually join the European Union.
Lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said that it would also allow authorities “to more effectively punish” suspected Russian war criminals amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Warrants
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin and ex-defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
The warrants were issued for their roles in alleged crimes against Ukrainian civilians.
Russia has denied targeting civilians.
Ukraine Has Worked With The ICC
“Ukraine has already worked effectively with the ICC to ensure comprehensive accountability for all Russian atrocities committed in the course of Russian aggression,” Kuleba said.
“This work will now be even more effective.”
Kuleba also described Kyiv’s bid for ICC membership as “a long journey full of challenges, myths, and fears.”
Why Ratification Process Was Held Up?
In an interview with Reuters in June, senior presidential adviser Iryna Mudra said the ratification process was held up because of a “disinformation campaign”.
The campaign falsely suggesting Ukrainian troops would be more vulnerable to prosecution.
Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznia said that Ukraine’s General Staff and the head of Kyiv’s military intelligence presented letters of support to deputies before voting.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
