The ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will make it more effective to ensure the comprehensive responsibility of the Russian Federation for crimes during the aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

“Today, the Ukrainian Parliament ratified the Rome Statute. Ukraine has become the 125th member of the International Criminal Court. This has been a long journey full of challenges, myths, and fears. None of them have been true. And today, we are finally there, thanks to Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy's leadership, years of systemic work by the Foreign Ministry and other institutions, and the will of Ukrainian parliamentarians,” he said on X Wednesday.

According to him, by taking this step, Ukraine demonstrates its unwavering commitment to strengthening international justice. “Ukraine has already worked effectively with the ICC to ensure comprehensive accountability for all Russian atrocities committed in the course of Russian aggression. This work will now be even more effective,” Kuleba is sure. He also noted that with the ratification of the Rome Statute, Ukraine has taken another step towards joining the EU.

“I am grateful to all of my colleagues in the Ukrainian government, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Deputy Head of the President’s Office Iryna Mudra, , Verkhovna Rada Chairperson Ruslan Stefanchuk, , and all MPs who helped make this historic decision,” the foreign minister summed up.

Earlier it was reported that on August 21, the Verkhovna Rada ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Some 281 MPs voted for relevant bill No. 0285 on ratification of the Rome Statute and amendments thereto.