Does Russian aggression against Ukraine signal a weakening of international law?

There can be no doubt that the intensification and expansion of Russian military operations on Ukrainian territory, with the assistance of Belarus, since February 24, 2022, constitute a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, Article 2 4 of which prohibits States from resorting to the threat or use of force in their international relations. It may seem particularly worrying to see the principles of international law disregarded in this way, especially when such fundamental principles as the prohibition on the use of force by States and its corollary, the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force, are involved. While it is undeniable that international law has been flouted, it is not so obvious that this is a sign of its weakening or loss of authority.