Make a Submission
Vol. 44 (2024)
General Articles

Validity of a Potential Peace Treaty Between Ukraine and Russian Federation in the Light of Article 52 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

PDF
  • Kristýna Urbanová
Kristýna Urbanová
Charles University

Published 2025-11-14

Keywords

  • coercion,
  • Vienna Convention on Law of the Treaties,
  • peace treaty,
  • Ukraine,
  • VCLT

How to Cite

Validity of a Potential Peace Treaty Between Ukraine and Russian Federation in the Light of Article 52 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. (2025). Polish Yearbook of International Law, 44, 49-66. https://doi.org/10.24425/PYIL.2025.156714

Abstract

This article examines the legal validity of a potential peace treaty between 
Ukraine and Russia under Art. 52 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 
(VCLT), which renders treaties invalid if procured by the threat or use of force. It 
analyses the key elements of Art. 52, the relevant case law and state practice and the 
legal consequences for other states in case such a treaty is voided.

PDF

References

  1. Akande D., Tzanakopoulos A., Use of Force in Self-Defence to Recover Occupied Territory: When Is It Permissible?, EJIL: Talk!, 18 November 2020, available at: https://www.ejiltalk.org/use-of-force-in-selfdefence-to-recover-occupied-territory-when-is-it-permissible/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  2. Beale M.O., The Role of Airpower in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Air University Press, Alabama: 1997.
  3. Bowett D.W., The Dubai/Sharjah Boundary Arbitration of 1981, 65(1) British Yearbook of International Law 103 (1994), pp. 103–133.
  4. Corten O., Klein P. (eds.), The Vienna Conventions on the Law of Treaties: A Commentary, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2011.
  5. Court of Arbitration, Dubai-Sharjah Border Arbitration (1981) 91 ILR 543.
  6. Crawford J., Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2012.
  7. Currie J., NATO’s Humanitarian Intervention in Kosovo: Making or Breaking International Law?, 36 Canadian Yearbook of International Law 303 (1999), pp. 303–333.
  8. Dayton Peace Agreement, General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (signed on 23 November 1995).
  9. Denisova K., Ukraine Won’t Recognize Occupied Territories as Russian as Part of Any Peace Deal, Zelensky Says, The Kyiv Independent, 12 March 2025, available at: https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainewont-recognize/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  10. District Court of the Hague, Amato Narodni Podnik v. Julius Keilwerth Musikinstrumentefabrik (1955) 24 ILR 435.
  11. Eichensehr K.E., Contemporary Practice of the United States Relating to International Law, 116(3) American Journal of International Law 593 (2022), pp. 593–652.
  12. Evans A.E., Judicial Decisions, 66(1) The American Journal of International Law 145 (1972), pp. 145–189.
  13. Fietta S., Cleverly R., Dubai-Sharjah Border Arbitration (Award of the ad hoc Court of Arbitration, 19 October 1981), in: S. Fietta, R. Cleverly (eds.), A Practitioner’s Guide to Maritime Boundary Delimitation, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2016, pp. 210–220.
  14. Forlati S., Coercion as a Ground Affecting the Validity of Peace Treaties, in: E. Cannizzaro (ed.), The Law of Treaties Beyond the Vienna Convention, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2011, pp. 320–332.
  15. Fox G., A Legal Framework for a Russia-Ukraine Peace Agreement, EJIL: Talk!, 19 December 2024, available at: https://www.ejiltalk.org/a-legal-frameworkfor-a-russia-ukraine-peace-agreement/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  16. Fox G.H., Old and New Peace Agreements, 52(3) Seton Hall Law Review 797 (2022), pp. 797–867.
  17. Goncharova O., Ukraine Must Make Concessions in Any Peace Deal, Rubio Says, The Kyiv Independent, 10 March 2025, available at: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-must-make-concessions-in-any-peacedeal-rubio-says/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  18. Gray C., International Law and the Use of Force, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, New York: 2008.
  19. Gray C., The ICJ Advisory Opinion on Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 63(3) Cambridge Law Journal 527 (2004), pp. 527 –556.
  20. Herbert F., Territorial Concessions to the Aggressor, Verfassungsblog, 6 January 2025, available at: https://verfassungsblog.de/territorial-concessions-to-the-aggressor/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  21. Hoffmann T., War or Peace? – International Legal Issues Concerning the Use of Force in the Russia–Ukraine Conflict, 63(3) Hungarian Journal of Legal Studies 206 (2022), pp. 206–235.
  22. ICJ, Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Judgment, 31 January 2024, ICJ Rep 2024.
  23. ICJ, Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda), Rejoinder Submitted by the Republic of Uganda, 6 December 2002, ICJ Rep 2002.
  24. ICJ, Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda), CounterMemorial of Uganda, 21 April 2001, ICJ Rep 2001.
  25. ICJ, Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda), Judgment, 19 December 2005, ICJ Rep 2005.
  26. ICJ, Case concerning the Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia), Memorial of Nicaragua, 28 April 2003, ICJ Rep 2003.
  27. ICJ, Case concerning the Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia), Judgment, 13 December 2007, ICJ Rep 2007.
  28. ICJ, Fisheries Jurisdiction (United Kingdom v. Iceland), Judgment, 2 February 1973, ICJ Rep 1973.
  29. ICJ, Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, Advisory Opinion, 19 July 2024, ICJ Rep 2024.
  30. ICJ, Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South-West Africa) Notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, 21 June 1971, ICJ Rep 1971.
  31. ICJ, Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, 9 July 2004, ICJ Rep 2004.
  32. ICJ, Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua Nicaragua v. United States of America, Judgment, 27 June 1986, ICJ Rep 1986.
  33. ILC, Draft Conclusions on Identifcation and Legal Consequences of Peremptory Norms of General International Law (jus cogens), Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 2022.
  34. ILC, Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts with Commentary, Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 2001.
  35. Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-Government in Kosovo (signed on 18 March 1999).
  36. Janev I., The Possibilities for Termination of the Kumanovo Agreement, 5(2) Journal of Political Science and International Relations 58 (1999), pp. 58–68.
  37. Kehl P., Treaty or No Treaty? – International Law and the Purported Trump Peace Proposal for Ukraine, EJIL: Talk!, 2 December 2024, available at: https://www.ejiltalk.org/treaty-or-no-treaty-international-lawand-the-purported-trump-peace-proposal-for-ukraine/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  38. Lang A., Modus Operandi and ICJ’s Appraisal of the Lusaka Ceasefre Agreement in the Armed Activities Case: The Role of Peace Agreements in International Conflict Resolution, 40 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics 107 (2008), pp. 107–169.
  39. Lauterpacht H., Report on the Law of Treaties, Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1953, vol. 2, pp. 149–365.
  40. League of Arab States, Written Comments of the League of Arab States, Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem (Request for Advisory Opinion), 25 October 2023.
  41. Lipovský M., Assessing the Legal Boundaries of Military Support to Ukraine from the Perspective of Use of Force, 50(1–2) Review of Central and East European Law 87 (2025), pp 87–109.
  42. Lipovský M., Suitability of the Principle of Non-intervention as a Rule against Cybernetic Electorate Targeting Information Operations, unpublished manuscript (on fle with the author).
  43. Lusaka Ceasefre Agreement (signed on 10 July 1999).
  44. Manston G., The Aminoil–Kuwait Arbitration, 17(2) Journal of World Trade 177 (1983), pp. 177–202.
  45. Milano E., Security Council Action in the Balkans: Reviewing the Legality of Kosovo’s Territorial Status, 14 European Journal of International Law 999 (2003), pp. 999–1022.
  46. Military Technical Agreement between the International Security Assistance Force and the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia (signed on 9 June 1999).
  47. Rasmussen K., Lawful Ends to Unlawful Wars: The Prohibition on Coerced Treaties and the Fate of Ukraine, 135 Yale Law Journal 1 (2025), pp. 1–65.
  48. Resolution 1244 (1999), 10 June 1999, S/RES/1244(1999).
  49. Schmalenbach K., Article 52, in: O. Dörr, K. Schmalenbach (eds.), Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: A Commentary, Springer, Berlin: 2018, pp. 937–964.
  50. Schmalenbach K., Prantl A., How to End an Illegal War?, Völkerrechtsblog, 21 April 2022, available at: https://intrechtdok.de/receive/mir_mods_00012532 (accessed 30 June 2025).
  51. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Remarks to the Press, US Department of State, 10 March 2025, available at: https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-the-press-2/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  52. Talmon S., Security Council Treaty Action, 62 Revue Hellénique de Droit International 65 (2009), pp. 65–116.
  53. The American Independent Oil Company v. The Government of the State of Kuwait, Ad Hoc Arbitration, Final Award, 24 March 1982.
  54. UNGA resolution of 18 March 2022, Aggression against Ukraine, Doc. A/RES/ES-11/1.
  55. UNGA resolution of 24 October 1970, Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Doc. A/RES/2625(XXV).
  56. UNGA resolution of 24 October 1970, Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Doc. A/RES/2625(XXV).
  57. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (signed on 23 May 1969, entered into force on 27 January 1980), 1155 UNTS 331.
  58. Villiger M.E., Commentary on the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Brill, Leiden: 2009.
  59. Vischyk M., Pizzi J., The Voices from Kyiv: Is the World legal Order in Decay?, Just Security, 26 February 2025, available at: https://www.justsecurity.org/108358/kyiv-world-legal-order-decay-2/ (accessed 30 June 2025).
  60. Vishchyk M., Pizzi J., Compromise on Territory, Legal Order, and World Peace: The Fate of International Law Lies on Ukraine, Just Security, 6 October 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mrxspbec (accessed 30 June 2025).

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.