Building on Part 1, this article delves into what international law says about one state invading another. Using Articles 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter, Kwame Obeng analyzes how the rules governing sovereignty, self-defence, and the use of force shape our understanding of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and whether such action can ever be justified.

In this continuation of the Russia–Ukraine analysis, Kwame Obeng examines whether Russia’s invasion is justified under international law. Drawing on UN Charter Articles 2(4) and 51, and comparing past global conflicts like Libya and Iraq, this piece explores the legality, logic, and moral weight behind President Putin’s claims of self-defence, humanitarianism, and “de-nazification.”