Ukraine and the Council of Europe have recently formalized their commitment to establishing a special tribunal aimed at holding senior Russian officials accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This pivotal agreement was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset in Strasbourg, France.
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President Zelensky expressed the significance of this endeavor, stating, “This is truly a very important step. Every war criminal must know there will be justice, and that includes Russia. We are now boosting the legal work in a serious way.” He acknowledged, however, that the road ahead will require persistent effort. “There is still a long road ahead. Today’s agreement is just the beginning. We must take real steps to make it work,” he said. He further emphasized the necessity for robust political and legal cooperation to ensure that every Russian war criminal, including President Vladimir Putin, is brought to justice.
The Council of Europe, composed of 46 member states and established post-World War II to champion human rights and the rule of law, had endorsed the tribunal in May. The aim is to complement the International Criminal Court (ICC) and address legal gaps in prosecutions. Notably, the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin, accusing him of the illegal deportation of numerous children from Ukraine.
Mr. Berset noted that the next step towards operationalizing the tribunal will involve expanding the agreement to include as many countries as possible, enabling them to support and manage the tribunal effectively. “International law must apply to all, with no exceptions and no double standards,” he asserted. This marks a historical moment, as it is the first tribunal to be convened under the Council of Europe, Europe’s leading human rights institution.
The Council of Europe is distinct from the European Union and includes significant non-EU nations such as Turkey, the UK, and Ukraine. Russia was expelled from the council following its invasion of Ukraine. According to the Council, the tribunal will operate within its framework and will have the mandate to prosecute high-ranking leaders for their aggression against Ukraine, particularly addressing the “jurisdictional limitations” faced by the ICC.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reported no advancements in scheduling the next peace talks with Ukraine, as noted by Interfax news agency. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia supports ongoing U.S. mediation efforts. The two nations had initial negotiations after a three-year hiatus, resulting in series of prisoner exchanges and the return of deceased soldiers’ remains. However, significant progress towards a ceasefire—which Ukraine, with Western backing, has been advocating for—remains elusive.
In a related development, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov commented on the implications of increased European arms and mercenary supplies to Ukraine, warning that “Attempts to prolong military actions by supplying Ukraine with arms and mercenaries increase the threat of destabilization, including in Europe itself.”
Tragically, recent Russian airstrikes in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region resulted in civilian casualties. Officials reported the death of one person and injuries to two others due to strikes on the village of Tavriyske. Additionally, guided munitions impacted residential areas, causing further injuries, including to elderly residents.
On the flip side, the Russian defense ministry claimed it had successfully intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones overnight, with a majority being downed over the border region of Kursk. Following the threat, Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport suspended flights, with restrictions also affecting airports along the Volga River, as stated by aviation authorities.
Efforts towards diplomatic resolution remain stalled, despite pressure from the United States. Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately obstructing peace negotiations in an effort to prolong its military offensive and claim additional territory. It is reported that Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukraine and has annexed four regions since its invasion began in 2022, in addition to Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
