K Shanmugam on ‘indivisible security’ in relation to Russia-Ukraine war

Self-determination, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the non-recourse to the use of force, are fundamental principles of international law, said Law Minister K Shanmugam. He reiterated this point in reply to an MP’s question in Parliament on Monday (May 8) following his speech on “The Russia-Ukraine War and Southeast Asia One Year On: Implications and Outlook” on Mar 8 at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute workshop. Mr Shanmugam stressed that these principles are enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violated these principles. He also said Russia’s invasion cannot be justified. He noted that Russia has invoked “indivisible security” as one of the reasons for the invasion of Ukraine. But he said this cannot give grounds for the invasion. He said “indivisible security” is not of the same status as self-determination, sovereignty or territorial integrity and the non-recourse to the use of force. Mr Shanmugam noted that the concept of “indivisible security” in some form has been invoked by both Russia and the United States but that does not make it a principle of international law and it is not set out in the UN Charter. He added that Ukraine is the unfortunate victim and its people are “paying a terrible price”.