Author: Kateryna Busol, British Institute of International and Comparative Law

Abstract: »In early February 2022, President Macron flew to Moscow, in yet another attempt to convince Russia to de-escalate its looming all-out offensive on Ukraine. After the lengthy negotiations – that became infamous for the enormously long table, which in itself could give rise to various Freudian interpretations – President Putin and President Macron proceeded to a joint press-conference. One of the issues that unsurprisingly emerged in the discussion were the Minsk Agreements. These controversial arrangements advocated by Russia eroded its role in the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region since 20142 and were perceived as "peace settlements" anywhere but in Ukraine. At the press conference, Vladimir Putin once again emphasized that Kyiv must implement the agreements. However, the Russian President voiced the demand in a rather unconventional form – using sexist wording, which alluded to rape: "My beauty, it’s your duty."« (Source: eKMAIR)

Reprint: Busol, Kateryna. »When the Head of State Makes Rape Jokes, His Troops Rape on the Ground: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine.« The Russian Invasion of Ukraine Victims, Perpetrators, Justice, and the Question of Genocide. Edited by Diana Dumitru et al. London 2025. - Bibliographic Entry: Info

Wikipedia: History of Europe: History of Russia / History of the Russian Federation | History of Europe: History of Ukraine / Modern history of Ukraine | Sex and the law: Rape / Rape culture, Wartime sexual violence | War: Russo-Ukrainian War / Sexual violence in the Russian invasion of Ukraine