On EJIL:Talk!, Alain Pellet reflects on his resignation as counsel for Russia before the International Court of Justice, prompted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While distinguishing the 2014 Crimea situation—where he believes the population may have genuinely supported reunification with Russia—from the broader aggression against Ukraine, Pellet denounces the latter as a clear violation of international law. He emphasizes that Russia’s use of force cannot be justified under the UN Charter and expresses deep disappointment that a country once pivotal in shaping humanitarian law has now betrayed its principles. This powerful open letter combines legal reasoning with a moral appeal to his former Russian colleagues, marking a firm stand for the rule of law.