Russia’s war against Ukraine is also a war against the law itself. Putin is trampling on the most fundamental principles of international law, which bind all peoples together. Cluster bombs dropped on peaceful civilians, torture chambers in dark cellars, the kidnapping of thousands of Ukrainian children – there is nothing that justifies Russia’s illegal and terrible rampage in Ukraine, the brutality of this war.

The Hague stands like no other city for international law and justice. The international courts there embody the confident belief that the world can resolve its conflicts peacefully and that grave crimes will be punished. In The Hague, I want to make it clear that international law is strong and that it falls to all of us to ensure it is enforced and, now more than ever, to strengthen it.

On important foreign policy issues, Germany and the Netherlands speak as one – for example when it comes to our solidarity with the brave people in Iran and the oppressed women and girls in Afghanistan. And since this war began, Germany and the Netherlands have also been united in standing firmly by the people of Ukraine. It remains our common goal for the people of Ukraine to once again be able to live in peace and security.