On 4 May 2023, HE Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, visited the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was received by ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański and ICC Registrar Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler.
President Hofmański briefed President Zelenskyy on the ICC’s current work, spanning 16 situation countries on four continents and four ongoing trials. He emphasized the Court’s independence and impartiality as a judicial institution mandated to address the most serious crimes under international law. President Hofmański thanked Ukraine for its cooperation with the Court, notably the recent agreement allowing for the creation of an ICC office in the country.
President Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for the role of the ICC in providing justice in Ukraine and contributing to the rule of law worldwide.
Ukraine is not a State Party to the Rome Statute, but it has twice exercised its prerogatives to accept the Court’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes under the Rome Statute occurring on its territory, pursuant to article 12(3) of the Statute. The ICC opened an investigation regarding the situation in Ukraine on 2 March 2022.
