UN Charter
Prohibition on the Use of Force and Territorial Integrity
The foundation of contemporary international law governing inter-state conflict is Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine — and its subsequent annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts — constitutes one of the most direct violations of this foundational norm in the post-Cold War era.
- Article 2(4): All UN member states must refrain from the threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of other states.
- Article 51: The sole recognized exception — the right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs — until the UN Security Council acts.
- Russia's annexations (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson — 2022) were condemned by 143 UN General Assembly members in Resolution ES-11/4; only 5 voted against.
- The UN Security Council is structurally paralyzed on Ukraine because Russia holds a permanent veto (P5 member).
- The gap between UNGA condemnation and UNSC enforcement underscores a key structural weakness of the collective security system.
● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen May 04, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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