Received 12.08.2024, Revised 08.11.2024, Accepted 20.12.2024
With Ukraine’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, both legal practitioners and scholars face significant challenges in effectively incorporating international legal norms into national legislation. This challenge is further compounded by the limited precedent set by the International Criminal Court regarding the application of the Statute. A key issue in this process is the harmonisation of terminology, particularly military terminology, which is essential for legal clarity and effective international dialogue. This article aimed to substantiate the necessity of aligning military terminology in national legislation with international law and to identify inconsistencies in the use of definitions that hinder a clear understanding of conflicts. Such inconsistencies obstruct meaningful discourse on the international stage. The study examined key military terms, including “armed conflict”, “military conflict”, and “war”, and analysed their classification within Ukraine’s national regulatory framework. It also provides an etymological analysis of these terms and compares them with definitions used in international humanitarian law, particularly within the Rome Statute. A review of scholarly literature revealed a lack of consensus regarding the application of these terms, along with inconsistencies in their usage across various works. The study found that Ukraine’s classification of military and armed conflicts aligns with Russian legal interpretations but contradicts international standards. Therefore, this article advocated for adopting internationally recognised terminology and classification standards for armed conflicts in national legislation, avoiding unnecessary distinctions between these concepts. The findings provided compelling arguments for adhering to established international definitions, demonstrating that the inconsistent and unsystematic use of military terminology undermines conceptual clarity and weakens scholarly discourse. The practical significance of this research lies in its analysis of key military terms such as “war”, “military conflict”, “armed conflict”, and “aggression”, clarifying their usage in both national and international legal contexts
armed conflict; legislation; war; armed aggression; Rome Statute
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