Thirty-six countries sign agreement to establish special tribunal for Ukraine

On Friday, thirty-six countries, primarily European, formally committed to establishing a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine, with the court to be based in The Hague. The initiative was finalized during the annual meeting of the Council of Europe's foreign ministers. This mechanism is intended to address a jurisdictional gap, as the International Criminal Court cannot prosecute the crime of aggression against a non-member state like Russia, which could also utilize its UN Security Council veto. The ministers approved a resolution defining the structure and functions of a management committee, which will oversee the tribunal, elect judges and prosecutors, and manage the budget. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the decision, comparing the effort to the Nuremberg trials that prosecuted Nazi leaders. Participating states have pledged to respect the independence of the court's judicial proceedings. The move follows long-standing calls for legal accountability regarding the invasion.