President Volodymyr Zelensky has formally signed the ratification documents for the Special Tribunal on Russian aggression, marking a critical milestone in Ukraine’s efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions. The tribunal, which aims to prosecute Russia’s top political and military leadership for the crime of aggression, was established through an agreement signed by Ukraine and the Council of Europe on June 25. After more than three years of advocacy and diplomacy, the agreement was finalized during a ceremony in Strasbourg, with Zelensky and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset signing the documents.
Zelensky emphasized the urgency of legislative implementation to ensure the tribunal can proceed without delay. In a statement, he called on Ukraine’s government to submit necessary legislative changes to parliament, urging lawmakers to treat this as an immediate priority. “The agreement must now be swiftly ratified so that the process of creating the tribunal can begin,” he said. The move is part of a broader strategy to secure justice for Ukraine’s people, with Zelensky vowing to hold all Russian officials responsible for the war accountable.
The tribunal is designed to address the legal gap that currently prevents the International Criminal Court (ICC) from prosecuting Russia for the crime of aggression. While the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials, the tribunal aims to provide a more direct mechanism for accountability. Zelensky also called for international partners to finalize a roadmap for the tribunal’s launch, vowing that Russia must “begin to feel that accountability for the crime of aggression is inevitable” as part of a global effort to ensure peace.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on June 25, Zelensky thanked the body for its role in championing the idea of the tribunal. “It was here in this assembly that the first call for such a tribunal was made,” he said. “The idea was born here—and now it’s gaining real support from partner countries in Europe and beyond.” Zelensky highlighted the need for international cooperation to ensure the tribunal’s success, emphasizing that the pursuit of justice is a shared global responsibility.
Alongside the tribunal, the Council of Europe has also helped establish the Register of Damage, which has received over 34,000 claims from Ukrainians documenting losses and harms caused by the war. This initiative underscores the broader effort to not only seek justice for the crime of aggression but also to document the extensive impact of the conflict on Ukrainian citizens.
Zelensky’s commitment to justice is a central theme of his leadership, with repeated calls for the prosecution of all Russian officials responsible for planning and executing the war. The establishment of the Special Tribunal represents a significant legal and political development in the ongoing conflict, signaling Ukraine’s determination to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to ensure that the crime of aggression is recognized as a punishable offense on the global stage.