THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Russia has snubbed a hearing at the United Nations top court into a legal bid by Kyiv to halt Moscows devastating invasion of Ukraine.

A row of seats reserved for Russian lawyers at the International Court of Justice was empty Monday morning as the hearing opened.

The courts president, American judge Joan E. Donoghue, said Russias ambassador to the Netherlands informed judges that his government did not intend to participate in the oral proceedings. The hearing went ahead without the Russian delegation.

The International Court of Justice is opening two days of hearings at its headquarters, the Peace Palace, into Ukraines request for its judges to order Russia to halt its invasion. Ukraine is scheduled to present its arguments Monday morning and Russia has the opportunity to respond on Tuesday.

Ukraine has asked the court to order Russia to immediately suspend the military operations launched Feb. 24 that have as their stated purpose and objective the prevention and punishment of a claimed genocide in the separatist eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

A decision is expected on the request within days, though that does not mean Russia would abide by any order the court might issue.

If the court were to order a halt to hostilities, I think the chance of that happening is zero, said Terry Gill, a professor of military law at the University of Amsterdam. He noted that if a nation does not abide by the courts order, judges could seek action from the United Nations Security Council, where Russia holds a veto.