Russia-Ukraine Crisis: International Court of Justice to hold public hearing on March 7-8

An ICJ statement said, "In view of the current pandemic, the hearings will be held in a hybrid format. Some members of the court will attend the oral proceedings in person in the Great Hall of Justice while others will participate remotely by video link."

Representatives of Russia and Ukraine will participate either in person or by video link, it said.

As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the ICJ has a vital role to play in the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Ukraine filed an application in the ICJ on Feb. 26 to initiate proceedings against Russia under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and urged the court to tell Russia to halt all military actions in Ukraine immediately.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted, "We request an urgent decision ordering Russia to cease military activity now."

Zelensky had recently turned down Russia's initiation to hold talks in Belarus.

The 44-years-old Ukrainian President said he was open to discussions in other places like Warsaw, Bratislava, Istanbul, and Baku.

During an emergency session of the UN General Assembly held on Feb. 28 , Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was in direct conflict with the United Nations Charter, a foundational treaty of the UN which guides its 193 member nations.