Ukraine reaffirms support for ICC, its ‘independence, integrity’

Ukraine on Friday reaffirmed its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as for its “independence and integrity,” amid US sanctions announced against the court earlier in the day.

“As a State Party to the Rome Statute, Ukraine reaffirms its support for the International Criminal Court and for its independence and integrity,” said a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement on US social media company X.

The statement said that the ICC, on the part of Kyiv, is a vital institution in Ukraine’s “pursuit of accountability for Russian atrocities and delivering justice for victims and survivors.”

“We remain committed to working with other States Parties to the Rome Statute to ensure the Court's effective functioning,” the statement added.

Ukraine’s statement comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced earlier Friday the implementation of sanctions against the ICC, hours after Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge and UN human rights chief, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Rubio threatened to "end the ICC" unless it stopped what he described as its "threats."

The ICC, based in The Hague, is an independent international tribunal responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.