**Ukraine and Council of Europe Sign Historic Agreement to Establish Tribunal for Russian Aggression**
In a major breakthrough, Ukraine and the Council of Europe have signed an historic agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. This significant step aims to hold Russia’s leadership accountable for launching the full-scale invasion in 2022.
**A Long-Overdue Move Towards Justice**
The agreement was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset on June 25, following over three years of diplomatic efforts. Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Zelensky emphasized the importance of justice and accountability for those responsible for the war.
“We cannot just forgive and forget,” Zelensky said. “Everyone responsible for this war must be held to account. Every war criminal must face justice – including Putin… The crime of aggression must be recorded, judged, and punished.”
**A Tribunal to Hold Russian Leaders Accountable**
The Special Tribunal will have the mandate to prosecute senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression, which is defined as the decision to use armed force against another state in violation of the United Nations Charter. This tribunal will fill a key legal gap in existing international accountability mechanisms.
While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction to investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Ukraine, it cannot examine the crime of aggression due to jurisdictional constraints. The new tribunal will complement the ICC’s efforts by specifically targeting high-level officials responsible for starting the war – such as Putin and his inner circle.
**A Historic Moment for World Justice**
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha hailed the signing as a “historic moment not only for Ukraine, but also for world justice.” President Zelensky has long advocated for the creation of the tribunal, emphasizing the need to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to justice.
**Bringing War Criminals to Justice**
The establishment of the Special Tribunal is an important step towards ensuring justice for Ukraine and its people. Ukrainian prosecutors have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilians, cultural landmarks, medical facilities, and reports of torture and forced deportations.
In addition to the special tribunal, the Council of Europe’s Ukraine-related work includes the Register of Damage – an initiative that has already received more than 34,000 claims detailing losses and harms resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion.
**Read More**
To learn more about this historic agreement and its significance for Ukraine and world justice, please visit [kyivindependent.com](http://kyivindependent.com).
