This insightful article breaks down the complex causes behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From the fall of the USSR to the secession of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the role of the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine, Kwame Obeng sheds light on the geopolitical motivations and legal implications of one of the most defining global conflicts of our time.

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.