Ukraine and the Council of Europe have signed a landmark agreement to establish a special tribunal targeting senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The signing took place in Strasbourg on Wednesday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset formalizing the deal at the Council’s headquarters.
“This is a very important step. Every war criminal must know there will be justice—including Russia. We are now boosting the legal work in a serious way,” said Zelenskiy. He emphasized that while this is only the beginning, the goal is clear: to ensure that all responsible individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are held accountable.
Ukraine has pushed for such a tribunal since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing thousands of war crimes and aim to hold top-level officials accountable for planning and executing the invasion.
The Council of Europe, a 46-member human rights body formed after World War II, approved the tribunal in May. It is intended to complement the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly in areas where legal gaps exist. While the ICC has already issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, the new tribunal will specifically address the overarching crime of aggression.
This move marks a significant step in international legal efforts to ensure justice for Ukraine. However, Zelenskiy noted that building the tribunal will require ongoing political and legal collaboration among European nations and the broader international community.