Force majeure as grounds for exemption from liability: International approach and Ukrainian experience in terms of the military conflict

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the category of "force majeure" and the characteristics of the exemption from liability in circumstances of force majeure. In addition, the definition of force majeure in international normative acts is studied, the categories of force majeure, irresistible force and state of emergency are compared. The regime of grounds for exemption from liability and the place of force majeure in it are considered. The peculiarities of changing and terminating the contract as a result of a significant change in circumstances in case of force majeure in accordance with the legislation of European countries and Ukraine are analyzed. The article pays special attention to the qualification of circumstances as force majeure in the context of the anti-terrorist operation and the war in Ukraine. It is concluded that the concept of force majeure has its origin in Roman law and today it is known both in the civil and common law systems. From the time of Roman law, there was both a legislative regulation of exemption from liability for the occurrence of force majeure circumstances, as well as a contractual practice of formulating exemption from liability clauses.