EU foreign ministers issue statement on establishing tribunal for Russia over crimes against Ukraine

The foreign ministers and other representatives of the core group members approved the establishment of the special tribunal, referring to the UN General Assembly resolutions on aggression against Ukraine and the Vienna-Riga statement of the core group dated November 22, 2024.

The core group declares the following:

• We welcome the completion of the technical work on the draft legal instruments necessary to establish within the framework of the Council of Europe a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

• We reaffirm the critical importance of the Special Tribunal in delivering justice by holding accountable those who bear the greatest responsibility for this most serious international crime committed against Ukraine.

• We underline that once established, in accordance with its Statute, the Special Tribunal will conduct its proceedings in full respect of international law and human rights, with the aim of securing accountability for the crime of aggression and strengthening the international legal order.

• We express gratitude to all those who have actively contributed to the preparatory work on the draft legal instruments necessary for the establishment of the Special Tribunal, in particular the legal advisers participating in the Core Group.

• We underline the central role of the Council of Europe in establishing the Special Tribunal and acknowledge the significant contribution of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, including their work on the draft Agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the establishment of the Special Tribunal, the draft Statute of the Special Tribunal, and the draft Enlarged Partial Agreement outlining the modalities of support for the Special Tribunal, including its funding and other administrative aspects.

• We reaffirm our continued commitment to the process of establishing the Special Tribunal within the framework of the Council of Europe, to the swift commencement of its operations, and to supporting its effective functioning.

The coalition called on other states and international organizations to join and support the activities of the special tribunal for Russia.

The next step toward formalizing the tribunal will take place at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg on May 13–14, 2025.

The statement was agreed upon in the presence of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath.

Special tribunal for Russia over crimes against Ukraine

In September 2022, the Office of the President announced that Ukraine was proposing that G7 countries and other partner states support the initiative to establish a special international tribunal to punish Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Subsequently, a coalition was formed to work on this matter. Around 44 countries joined the effort. The initiative was supported by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and individual states.

Today, on May 9, ministers and diplomats from 35 countries and representatives of the Council of Europe arrived in Lviv.