On May 15, a significant decision was made during a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, paving the way for the establishment of a Special Tribunal to address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
A total of 36 nations, along with the European Union, have expressed their intention to join a new Extended Partial Agreement aimed at creating this tribunal.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, emphasized that this move represents a decisive step toward actualizing the tribunal and acknowledging accountability for the aggression against Ukraine.
“The tribunal embodies justice and hope. It is essential to take steps to fulfill this political commitment, ensuring the tribunal’s operation and funding. The time for Russia to be held accountable for its aggression is drawing near,”
she stated.
Burić urged countries to expedite their national procedures to join the tribunal as soon as possible.
The tribunal will investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate those responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. It aims to fill the jurisdictional gap left by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and will hold high-ranking officials accountable for their involvement in these acts.
“The moral foundation of Europe and the world will only be restored when the crime of aggression against Ukraine is punished. This is not just a matter of the past; it is about the future and the restoration of a shared space of truth, justice, and trust,”
noted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Ministers from the Council of Europe also welcomed the broad support for a convention to establish an International Claims Commission for Ukraine and called for further participation to ensure the swift creation of a compensation mechanism.
The International Claims Commission is part of a comprehensive compensation mechanism related to the aggressive war waged by Russia, which will be based on the Damage Register for Ukraine.
Established in 2023, the Damage Register collects and records compensation claims submitted by individuals, organizations, and state bodies in Ukraine. To date, 44 countries and the European Union have joined the Register, which has received over 150,000 claims.
This initiative to create a Special Tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been ongoing in Europe. In June of last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Secretary General Burić signed an agreement to establish the tribunal.
Prior to this, a pivotal international meeting took place in Lviv on May 9, 2025, where foreign ministers from numerous European countries, along with representatives from the Council of Europe, politically initiated the tribunal’s establishment.
Following this, the process transitioned into the legal realm, with countries preparing agreements, gathering support, and laying the legal groundwork for the tribunal, which is expected to be based in The Hague.
The tribunal will operate as an international body, guided by Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 3314.
It is anticipated that the court will be able to issue rulings even in the absence of defendants, particularly concerning the political and military leadership of Russia, and potentially Belarus and North Korea as well.
Recently, Foreign Minister Kuleba stated that Ukraine aims to legally finalize the establishment of the Special Tribunal regarding Russia’s aggression by May, as the requisite number of participating countries has already been secured.
The Council of Europe has taken a crucial step towards establishing a Special Tribunal to address Russian aggression against Ukraine. With support from 36 countries and the EU, the tribunal aims to ensure accountability for high-ranking officials involved in these acts.