Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials for war crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine.
During a historic address to the Council of Europe on Wednesday, Zelensky signed a formal accord with the rights body, marking the first step toward establishing a tribunal for the “crime of aggression.” The proposed court would hold senior Russian leaders accountable for initiating the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"This is a real chance to bring justice," Zelensky said, emphasizing the need for global accountability. “We must show that aggression leads to punishment, and we must do it together—Europe must stand united.”
According to the agreement, the tribunal will be created within the Council of Europe's framework, designed to “fill the gap” left by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which currently lacks jurisdiction to try crimes of aggression. Although the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Putin and several commanders for other war crimes, it cannot prosecute the decision to invade Ukraine.
Council Secretary General Alain Berset said the next step will be to expand the agreement to include the widest possible number of countries in order to support and manage the tribunal. The city of The Hague has been proposed as the ideal location.
Zelensky’s remarks also included a powerful message about global unity. After a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague, Zelensky stressed the importance of U.S.-European cooperation: “We need a strong connection with him [Trump] and unity between Europe and the United States.”
He added, “We need unity in Europe, first of all, and we will prevail.”
Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe following its 2022 invasion. The tribunal marks the first of its kind under the council's umbrella, which includes 46 member states, such as the UK, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Zelensky urged the international community to act boldly and without double standards. “Justice takes time, but it must happen,” he said. “Even Putin must face justice.”
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