UPDATED: Kremlin says it will not take heed of court’s demand to stop invasion

Russia has signalled it will not stop its invasion of Ukraine, after the United Nations’ top court ordered it to halt immediately. 

The court had said it was “profoundly concerned” by Russia’s use of force. 

The Kremlin has now said it will not pay heed to the order, accusing Western media of spreading “monstrous fake news” about the conflict. 

It also hit out at the US after President Joe Biden labelled Vladimir Putin a “war criminal”. 

A spokesperson said Mr Putin is a “very wise and cultured international figure”. 

They also said the US has long bombed civilians and used nuclear weapons in Japan at the end of the Second World War, Mr Biden has “no right to lecture Russia”.

Asked about reports of progression on peace talks with Ukraine, the Kremlin said Russian negotiators were putting “colossal energy” into the discussions – more than Ukraine. 

Russia’s conditions for a peace deal are “absolutely clear” and could stop what is going on “very fast”, they said. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Russia on Wednesday to stop the military actions it started in Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on Feb 24, 2022 in the territory of Ukraine,” the judges said.

The judges added Russia must also ensure that other forces under its control or supported by Moscow should not continue the military operation.

Although the court’s rulings are binding, it has no direct means of enforcing them and in rare cases, countries have ignored them, in the past.

Ukraine filed its case shortly after Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24, saying that Russia’s apparent justification, that it was acting to prevent a genocide in Eastern Ukraine, is unfounded.

At the hearings, Ukraine said there is no threat of genocide in Eastern Ukraine, and the U.N.’s 1948 Genocide Convention, which both countries have signed, does not allow an invasion to prevent one.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the invasion as a “special military action” needed “to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide” – meaning those whose first or only language is Russian – in eastern Ukraine.

Russia said it skipped World Court hearings on March 7 “in light of the apparent absurdity of the lawsuit”.

However, Moscow did file a written document with the court saying the ICJ should not impose any measures.

Russia argued that Putin’s use of the word “genocide” does not automatically imply that it is basing its actions on the Genocide Convention. Without a dispute over the interpretation of the treaty, the court has no jurisdiction, Russia argued.

In an urgent situation the court can order emergency measures in a matter of days, even before it decides on whether it has jurisdiction in a case. That usually takes many months, while decisions on the actual merits of a case takes years.

Photo – The Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands), seat of the International Court of Justice.Photograph: Jeroen Bouman – Courtesy of the ICJ.