Zelenskyy, Council of Europe sign agreement to launch Ukraine War tribunal

Published on 26/06/2025 - 5:47 GMT+2

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Alain Berset, person signed an statement connected the constitution of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine successful Strasbourg connected Wednesday.

The peculiar tribunal aims to people elder Russian leaders for “the countless warfare crimes” Ukraine accuses Russian forces of committing since the commencement of the Kremlin’s full-scale penetration successful February 2022.

Existing planetary courts, including the International Criminal Court successful The Hague, deficiency jurisdiction to prosecute Russian nationals for that circumstantial offense.

“Justice for Ukraine volition not wait,” Berset said up of the signature ceremonial with Zelenskyy.

“For the archetypal time, a dedicated planetary tribunal is being created to code the transgression of aggression. Established wrong the model of the Council of Europe, this tribunal volition clasp to relationship those who person utilized unit successful usurpation of the UN Charter,” helium added.

Zelenskyy referenced tribunals held to effort Nazis aft the Second World War and the 1 successful The Hague which tried individuals accused of superior violations of planetary humanitarian instrumentality during the Yugoslav wars, arguing that they should beryllium a ground for however Russian officials request to beryllium held to account.

“we each retrieve the tribunal that brought justness aft the horrors of Nazism. And the satellite volition ne'er hide Nuremberg. Years later, erstwhile hatred and warfare returned to parts of Europe, different tribunal was needed, this clip for the crimes successful the erstwhile Yugoslavia,” said Zelenskyy successful an code to the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE.

“Now we request the aforesaid for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This transgression indispensable beryllium judged intelligibly and thoroughly. The satellite needs an honest, historical verdict, truthful everyone liable for this warfare indispensable beryllium held to account,” added the Ukrainian leader.

Zelenskyy expressed optimism that the tribunal is simply a “real chance” to yet reconstruct immoderate justness to the radical of Ukraine who person suffered “unspeakable crimes” astatine the hands of Russian forces. Zelenskyy besides urged for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who helium accused of being a “war criminal” to beryllium tried.

"Other institutions, adjacent planetary ones, don't person the tools to bash this. And we request to amusement intelligibly aggression leads to punishment."

There are logistical details inactive to beryllium resolved, including wherever the tribunal volition beryllium based. The Hague has been suggested owed to its existing ineligible infrastructure, which Zelenskyy says would beryllium a “perfect” location, but nary last determination has been made.

The instauration volition beryllium funded by supporting countries known arsenic the Core Group, which dwell of 40 states. The United States backed the task nether erstwhile President Joe Biden, but President Donald Trump’s medication did not enactment the initiative.

Additional sources • AP, EBU