New Commons Library Research Briefing: Peace deals, territorial changes, and international law Negotiations over the war in Ukraine are facing challenges over the fate of Ukraine's territory. This briefing explains the law behind this. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

New Commons Library Research Briefing: Peace deals, territorial changes, and international law Negotiations over the war in Ukraine are facing challenges over the fate of Ukraine's territory. This briefing explains the law behind this. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

The the duty of non-recognition is to prevent states being coerced to transfer territory. Some arguments say that this even applies to "peace deals" in the context of force or occupation that is still ongoing - i.e Any peaceful transfers of territory must be separated from force.

Whatever Russia wants in a peace deal with Ukraine, a sticking point likely will be over trying to transfer Ukraine's territory. It's not just about whether Ukraine agrees, but what that means for the law and for states who don't want any state's territory to be taken by force 👇🏻

Book launch: International Law after the Ukraine War. Open Access collection from Edge Hill University & Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. 📅 Tues 4 Nov 2025 🕚 11am - 12:30pm 📍 Free Event (Online & In-person) Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bafd12...

Book launch: International Law after the Ukraine War. Open Access collection from Edge Hill University & Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. 📅 Tues 4 Nov 2025 🕚 11am - 12:30pm 📍 Free Event (Online & In-person) Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bafd12...

Save the date: Book Launch for "International Law after the Ukraine War", 4th November 2025, Edge Hill University (UK) / Online. A new open-access resource, including key Ukrainian voices. Details to follow. doi.org/10.4324/9781...

🚨New Research Project: The Law and Reality of the Responsibility to Maintain International Peace and Security at the United Nations We are inviting interested colleagues to an initial scoping workshop at Edge Hill University on November 12, 2025. Details: sites.edgehill.ac.uk/ijhr/project...

Just published: my latest House of Commons Library Briefing Paper on the UK Sanctions Framework. This paper explains the current operation of sanctions in the UK, and is meant as a resource for navigating a complicated framework of legislation. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Feedback and comments are always welcome. Please do share with colleagues who may find this useful too.

Just published: my latest House of Commons Library Briefing Paper on the UK Sanctions Framework. This paper explains the current operation of sanctions in the UK, and is meant as a resource for navigating a complicated framework of legislation. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

🚨New Research Project: The Law and Reality of the Responsibility to Maintain International Peace and Security at the United Nations We are inviting interested colleagues to an initial scoping workshop at Edge Hill University on November 12, 2025. Details: sites.edgehill.ac.uk/ijhr/project...

So, there is an argument that any transfer of territory can only be done when there is no illegal use of force. Where the line is between the end of an occupation and a valid peace deal is not yet clear. But the duty of non-recognition is certainly an elephant in the room.

Whatever Russia wants in a peace deal with Ukraine, a sticking point likely will be over trying to transfer Ukraine's territory. It's not just about whether Ukraine agrees, but what that means for the law and for states who don't want any state's territory to be taken by force 👇🏻

I published a briefing on Friday on the latest military confrontation between India & Pakistan over Kashmir. It also looks at the origins of the Kashmir dispute, international reaction to the current crisis, and analysis of how it escalated commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Looking forward to the Responsibility to Protect Conference in Ljubljana next week, 6-7 May. 20 years since the World Summit Outcome acknowledged states' responsibilities to protect, it does seem like a significant moment for R2P and its future. #R2P20 www.r2pconference.com/program3.html

Looking forward to the Responsibility to Protect Conference in Ljubljana next week, 6-7 May. 20 years since the World Summit Outcome acknowledged states' responsibilities to protect, it does seem like a significant moment for R2P and its future. #R2P20 www.r2pconference.com/program3.html

Ahead of the recall of parliament my colleague Ilze has published a briefing on the UK steel industry. Impressive work commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

In the context of the strategic defence review which we expect to be published soon, I've published a new briefing on the UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific, its original ambitions & developments since including under the new Labour government commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

One key issue that's not being discussed, and is maybe a bigger "elephant in the room" for Ukraine peace talks, is the international legal duty not to recognise the capture of territory by force. This is key for many reasons...🧵 edition.cnn.com/2025/03/22/e...

One key issue that's not being discussed, and is maybe a bigger "elephant in the room" for Ukraine peace talks, is the international legal duty not to recognise the capture of territory by force. This is key for many reasons...🧵 edition.cnn.com/2025/03/22/e...

In light of recent developments, I recently updated my Commons Library paper on Sanctions, International Law, and Seizing Russian assets. Intended to be a thorough overview of the legal issues and a resource for research, plus the latest developments. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

To kick off #R2P20 last week, on 26 February the Group of Friends of #R2P convened an Ambassador-level meeting to discuss the interlinkages between #R2P, atrocity prevention and peacebuilding with ASG for @unpeacebuilding.bsky.social Elizabeth Spehar.

For those, like me, who know nothing on this topic, I appreciated Section 5 in the Parliamentary briefing "Sanctions, international law and seizing Russian assets" By @patrickbutchard.bsky.social researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...

IMPORTANT UPDATE - Please share Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the 7th Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Conference will no longer be held in Liverpool and will take place at its place of origin, Ljubljana. Read more: sites.edgehill.ac.uk/ijhr/events-...

IMPORTANT UPDATE - Please share Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the 7th Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Conference will no longer be held in Liverpool and will take place at its place of origin, Ljubljana. Read more: sites.edgehill.ac.uk/ijhr/events-...

In light of recent developments, I recently updated my Commons Library paper on Sanctions, International Law, and Seizing Russian assets. Intended to be a thorough overview of the legal issues and a resource for research, plus the latest developments. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Hi to all new Bluesky users. Some recommendations from myself. 1) go check out lists maintained by @stevepeers.bsky.social 2) there are a couple of cool starter packs I can recommend.

Keen to keep the #InternationalLaw conversation going as it moves or splits from the other place. These starter packs also look incredibly useful. If anyone has one for international law, human rights, UN peace and security - let me know