Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that eleven countries have officially joined the Extended Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal aimed at investigating Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This statement was made during a joint press conference with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadia Naydenova in Kyiv.
“We are optimistic that the number of states joining the agreement on the Special Tribunal will increase. Currently, we have eleven confirmed countries, and we hope this number will grow following tomorrow’s meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ukraine,” said Sybiha.
Earlier that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Bulgarian Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov signed a bilateral security agreement, which also includes provisions related to energy cooperation.
Background on the Special Tribunal for Russian Aggression
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognized Russia as a terrorist state on November 21, 2022, and supported a resolution advocating for the establishment of a Special Tribunal to address the issue of Russian aggression. However, this decision requires individual endorsement from each participating country at the national level.
On November 8, 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament approved a bill concerning a Register of Damages caused by Russia. This legislation aims to safeguard the rights and interests of Ukraine and its citizens, allowing for the submission of claims related to war damages and facilitating the creation of compensation mechanisms.
On March 22, 2024, the Office of the Register of Damages caused by Russia was inaugurated in Kyiv. The office will employ approximately ten staff members, including legal experts and communication specialists, and is set to begin accepting compensation claims from individuals within weeks. According to Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, the executive director of the Register, the office will prioritize claims related to destroyed housing.
On May 9, 2025, EU foreign ministers and senior representatives of the bloc approved the launch of the Special Tribunal for the aggression committed by Russia’s military and political leadership against Ukraine.
The tribunal will be based in The Hague. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas, indicated that the tribunal is expected to deliver its first decisions by 2026.
On May 14, the Council of Europe endorsed the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Russian aggression, with over 40 countries already part of the coalition.
On June 25, President Zelensky and Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Alen Berse, signed an agreement to create the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The final version of the tribunal’s statute was subsequently published on the Council of Europe’s website.
On July 15, 2025, the Ukrainian Parliament ratified the agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe regarding the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that eleven countries have joined the Special Tribunal for investigating Russian aggression. This initiative, supported by NATO and the EU, aims to address the legal ramifications of Russia's actions in Ukraine.