Kallas announced the timeline for the creation and start of operation of the Ukrainian and international tribunals regarding Russia’s crimes
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Chantal Bonde, made an important statement regarding the prospects for the speedy establishment and functioning of a special tribunal tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine during its aggression. According to her, sufficient convincing evidence has already been gathered to expect relevant decisions by an international judicial body in the near future. Journalists from "European Pravda" had the opportunity to speak with Kallas during her visit to Lviv, where she confirmed that the process of forming the tribunal is moving in the right direction and, according to preliminary data, the tribunal could be operational as early as 2026. She noted that she does not specify exact dates for the first sentences yet but clarified, "In the documents I am familiar with, it states that the tribunal is planned to be launched in 2026. That means the first trial is expected to take place then." At the same time, in her opinion, it should be noted that investigations into crimes are already at an active preparatory stage, and the process in this field is actively ongoing. Kallas also emphasized that the process of online collection of evidence is already in full swing. She assured that there are practically no legal barriers that would complicate the start of the process during the tribunal's formation. "There are no legal obstacles to starting these processes now. We are working on documenting and collecting evidence continuously," she stressed. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha confirmed the importance of this work, noting that the Ukrainian side is already actively establishing the necessary evidentiary base. "Active legal actions, documentation, and evidence preparation are already underway, so there is no reason to delay the process. Everything is ready for the start of international investigation," he emphasized. According to government sources, this special tribunal will be a significant step toward bringing to justice those responsible for the most brutal crimes committed during Russia’s aggression. This topic was central at the recent meeting of foreign ministers in Lviv, where further steps in establishing the judicial mechanism were discussed. Media reports have already appeared about agreements to accelerate procedures and set specific deadlines. More details about the process of creating the tribunal, its structure, and functions can be found in the article "Nuremberg for Putin." That article describes all the current discussions and preparatory steps being undertaken in The Hague to create a fair and effective court for the Russian leadership and to attract international attention to the importance of holding accountable those responsible for war crimes in Ukraine.