The foreign ministers of the European Union intend to officially approve the establishment of an international tribunal in the coming days to hold high-ranking Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine
According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine CALLAS, this important decision is to be endorsed during their informal visit to Kyiv, scheduled for May 9 — Victory Day over Nazism in Europe. As CALLAS announced beforehand, during this visit there will be an official political vote in favor of creating a special international court aimed at bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and the crime of aggression against Ukraine. “Tomorrow, we will give our final political approval to this crucial instrument. There will be no impunity. We will do everything possible to ensure that those responsible for the committed crimes are held accountable,” she emphasized. CALLAS also added that on a technical level, all legal and organizational issues related to the tribunal’s creation have already been agreed upon, and now it remains to secure political endorsement. An official decision will be made by the Council of Europe, which will be joined remotely by its Secretary General, Aseela BERSE. The significance of this step is underscored by the fact that EU leaders reaffirmed their support for the initiative through a substantial political move. In addition, CALLAS informed that on Victory Day — May 9 — a plan is in place to announce the allocation of 1 billion euros to support Ukraine’s defense industry. This is a significant support for the Ukrainian armed forces amid the ongoing war and will help strengthen the country’s defense capabilities in the face of continuing aggression. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław SIKORSKI also confirmed that colleagues from other EU countries involved in the tribunal’s creation will travel to Lviv on May 9. The city has been chosen as the future venue for the court, which is expected to begin operations as early as 2025. An important detail is that preparatory work — including the development of legal and technical documents — is already completed and in the final stages. According to sources, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Aseela BERSE, recently confirmed that the organization is ready for the “rapid launch” of the tribunal. He believes that member states need to demonstrate political will and find a common platform for implementing this strategic project. He urged states to actively participate in the process, emphasizing the importance of establishing a legal basis for punishing those responsible for war crimes. Another source — an interview with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Aseela BERSE, published recently — explains that the launch of the crime of aggression tribunal for Russia’s aggression is planned for 2025. He pointed out that most key EU countries support this initiative and are willing to work towards its implementation. Meanwhile, diplomatic circles note that there are no negative signals from U.S. leadership regarding the creation of a special tribunal, which further motivates European partners. Overall, this step is of historic significance for the coordinated efforts of the international community to hold accountable those responsible for aggression and the war against Ukraine. Considering the ambitious timelines and high level of political support, the creation of a tribunal targeting the main figures of Russian aggression is becoming increasingly tangible, serving as a symbol of international solidarity in the fight for truth and justice.