Europe can play historical role in establishing tribunal over Russia’s crime of aggression – Zelensky

Europe can play a historical role in establishing a special international tribunal to bring Russia to justice for the crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine and developing a mechanism of reparations to be paid by Russians.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his online speech at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Europe can play a historical role in establishing a special tribunal over Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine. Let’s do it! This will be the best way to protect the principles of international law,” Zelensky said.

According to the President of Ukraine, Europe can also take the lead in efforts intended to ensure the recovery of losses caused by Putin’s war.

A lion’s share of Russian assets is concentrated in Europe, and they should be used to compensate for the damage caused to Ukraine.

“We have to develop a compensation mechanism, and we suggest how to create it. The corresponding project has already been prepared by Ukraine, and I ask you to support it at the level of Europe and at the level of the UN General Assembly,” Zelensky noted.

In his words, bringing the aggressor to justice will be a powerful guarantee of peace in the world.

“We should continue our dialogue in order to hold Russia as the aggressor state and each of Russian murderers and executioners accountable for all the crimes committed during this war, for each manifestation of terror. When such legal mechanisms are developed and come into effect, this will be one of the most powerful guarantees of long-term peace,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

A reminder that, in April 2022, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution proposing that an ad hoc international tribunal investigate and prosecute the crimes of Russia’s armed aggression in Ukraine.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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