international laws-of-war
Land seized during war
<p>Say one day Country A attacked Country B, and this began a full blown war between the two countries. </p>

<p>During this war, Country B seized some of Country A's territory along their mutual border, and Country B ended up winning the war. </p>

<p>Now that the war has ended, is Country B required by some international law or law of war to return the seized land to Country A?</p>

<p>Does it matter that Country A started the war, <em>not</em> Country B?</p>

<p>Country A and country B must do whatever they agree in the settlement of the conflict between themselves - returning or ceding of territory being one of these. Or they can disagree about these laying the seeds for further conflict.</p>

<p>The most recent example of this is Russia's seizure of the Crimea from Ukraine; which they <em>legitimised</em> by a plebiscite. AFAIK, Ukraine and the international community has not accepted this but neither are they doing anything about it - legally Crimea is still part of Ukraine, practically it is part of Russia.</p>
