One of the prosecutors, Geri Ferrara, told the court in September that human rights had to prevail over the "protection of state sovereignty".

They include John Healey, the British defence secretary, who said he expected the US "to remain alongside allies like the UK, standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes to prevail over Putin's invasion".

Acknowledging that darkness and death were inevitable, they also held the hope, through these communal rituals, that the light would return, the grain would grow again and life would ultimately prevail over death.

“We can do this,” Biden implored, saying the nation was founded on a democracy that gave reason and balance a chance to prevail over brute force.

The president’s claim of executive privilege for his White House tapes, justices said, “cannot prevail over the fundamental demands of ... the fair administration of criminal justice.”