REUTERS
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin says the UN International Court of Justice will hand down a final ruling on the MH17 downing case by late 2023. When we talk about the MH17 case, we must clearly distinguish between the tracks within which the investigation of the tragedy is taking place. The first is the criminal-legal bloc, this is the court in The Hague, which is holding hearings on progress of further investigation, which were postponed until April. Another area, in which Russia is being prosecuted as a state, in particular under the Terrorist Financing Convention, is Ukraine s lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice. And all these processes run in parallel lines, they have differences, but they are all aimed at bringing to justice both the Russian government, its military-political leadership, and specific perpetrators, he told Ukraina 24 TV channel.
What’s new? The 2015 Iran nuclear deal has looked at best shaky since the Trump administration withdrew from it in 2018, imposing damaging economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. In response, Tehran ramped up its nuclear activity in contravention of its obligations under the agreement. President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration could mark an inflection point.
Why does it matter? Having failed to achieve its objectives, Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy may be nearing an end. Restoring the nuclear deal, with its considerable non-proliferation benefits, could lead to wider U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement. But one or both sides may be tempted to make additional demands, which would be a recipe for deadlock.