Explaining complex things in simple words: Issue of getting NATO troops involved, legitimacy of authorities under martial law, martial state and state of war

THE ISSUE OF GETTING NATO TROOPS INVOLVED

French President Emmanuel Macron said that sending Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out in the future, although he added that there is no consensus on this as of today.

• Ukraine has not officially appealed to the partner countries with a request to involve the personnel of their armed forces to repel the Russian aggression.
• Currently, the international coalition supports Ukraine in a number of other important issues: the provision of weapons, ammunition, equipment, training of the Ukrainian military, joint projects in the defence industry, etc.
• The fact that this discussion exists among Western partners yet again indicates the falsehood of the enemy propaganda that “Russia is already at war against NATO in Ukraine.”
• NATO troops can get involved in the defence of Ukraine after Ukraine joins the alliance. In addition, given the growing Russian threat to the free world, no scenario can be ruled out in the future. Therefore, Mr. Macron may well be right.

LEGITIMACY OF THE AUTHORITIES UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Given the restrictions of martial law, Ukraine did not hold regular parliamentary elections on October 29, 2023, and will not hold regular presidential elections on March 31, 2024.

• In the conditions of martial law, it is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine to hold elections, and the powers of state authorities continue until its conclusion.
• Ukraine cannot hold elections because of Russian aggression. Instead, Putin's regime turned the election process in Russia into a show of its own accord.
• The government of Ukraine remains legitimate for all international partners, but "Putin's election" in March 2024 will not be recognized by the democratic world.
• The idea of the "illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government" is actively developed by Russian propaganda, which seeks to harm Ukraine in every possible way in order to make it lose the war.
• The postponement of elections due to war is not a unique situation in world practice. The British Parliament, elected in 1935, was not re-elected in 1940 and stayed at the helm of the country for 10 years. Prime Minister Winston Churchill relied on this Parliament during World War II.
• After the end of martial law in Ukraine, elections will be held as soon as possible.

MARTIAL STATE AND STATE OF WAR

• On February 24, 2022, martial law was imposed in Ukraine. This is a special legal regime that provides authorities with additional powers to repel aggression and restrict some rights and freedoms of citizens.
• According to the current legislation of Ukraine, martial law is a self-sufficient format for the implementation of all measures necessary for the war.
• The Russia-Ukraine war is a fact that does not require additional confirmation in the form of a declaration of war or the introduction of a state of war.
• States have long moved away from the practice of formally declaring war. And armed interventions are carried out under the guise of various operations, or their subjects even try to hide their involvement. This is what Russia did both in 2014 and in 2022.
• According to international law, aggression is the use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another state or in any other way inconsistent with the UN Charter. As a result of the aggression, Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defence.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security