EU rolls out new winter support for Ukraine and moves toward special tribunal for Russia
Photo: Kaja Kallas (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The European Union has decided to allocate €10 million to establish a Special Tribunal for Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine. Funds have also been allocated to support Ukraine in winter, says European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
According to her, the European Union has already allocated €800 million to support Ukraine this winter. In addition, the EU is working on an additional €100 million for backup generators and has allocated €2 billion for drones.
The support also includes a civilian mission for cyber defense and assistance to veterans.
"As Russia's war drags on, we must make use of every avenue to financially support Ukraine. EU leaders are discussing a reparation loan underpinned by Russian frozen assets. We need to press on with this proposal. Turning frozen Russian funds into frontline support is the right thing to do. Moscow should bear the costs of this war, not European taxpayers," Kallas emphasizes.
She also announces the first €10 million for the creation of a special tribunal on aggression against Ukraine.
"Russia's leaders are responsible for this war, and there wouldn't be any war crimes if there wouldn't be the crime of aggression, so that there wouldn't be any atrocities either. Nobody should be left unpunished for crimes committed. The forced deportation of children and rape are among the darkest chapters of Russia's war," Kallas adds.
Another €6 million will be allocated to support children who have been abducted by Russia so that they receive the necessary assistance and support.
Kallas' visit to Kyiv
Today, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, arrived in Kyiv on a working visit. During her visit, she planned to hold talks on financial and military support for Ukraine.
Agreement on creation of special tribunal
In June this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset signed an agreement on the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Currently, the statute of the special tribunal does not mention personal immunity, which allows charges to be brought even against the current Russian leadership. However, sentencing or conviction in absentia is only possible after removal from office.
Later, Zelenskyy explained that in order to begin the process of creating a special tribunal, it was necessary for the Rada to quickly ratify the agreement.
