Thirty-six countries, including 34 European states, plus Australia and Costa Rica, and the European Union back the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Reports say the decision is part of a broader effort to address the “crime of aggression,” which Ukraine and its partners frame as the planning and launch of Russia’s full-scale war that began in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an accord with the Council of Europe last year to establish a legal mechanism for this purpose.
The coalition has approved joining the proposed tribunal, which is described as a future legal body intended to allow Kyiv to pursue prosecutions related to aggression. Coverage also notes that talks took place in Moldova, involving foreign ministers and other officials from the Council of Europe’s member states. While the participating governments agree on the need for the tribunal, multiple outlets state that key details—such as how the tribunal would secure Russian individuals for trial—remain unclear. The Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe is referenced as part of the process to move the plan forward.
