Ukraine's foreign minister on Special Tribunal for Russia's crimes: It must have global character

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Ukraine has received confirmation that the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression committed by Russia will be located in The Hague.

Source: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry; Sybiha in a comment to Ukrinform

Details: The Foreign Ministry said that, according to Sybiha, Ukraine had received "official confirmation" that the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine will be based in The Hague.

Update: Sybiha also mentioned the expansion of a partial agreement on the Steering Committee for the Special Tribunal.

Quote from Sybiha: "We have certain political signals. We need this tribunal to have a global character. At present, it is no longer limited to Europe. This is very important for justice and the inevitability of punishment."

Details: Sybiha also noted that the political launch of the Special Tribunal had taken place on 9 May 2025 in Lviv, where foreign ministers of the European Union came.

Quote from Sybiha: "As for the timing, I consider this a kind of legal record – to establish such a tribunal in such a short time with the ability to hold Russian criminals accountable."

Details: Sybiha said there had been a clear confirmation that the Special Tribunal will be located in The Hague on Friday 15 May.

Quote from Sybiha: "The Dutch side confirmed this to us. This shows that the creation of the tribunal is no longer an abstract idea, but a concrete reality and that perpetrators will inevitably be held accountable for the crime of aggression."

Details: Responding to a question about when judges who will begin proceedings might be seen, Sybiha explained that such major landmark decisions are always followed by procedures.

Quote from Sybiha: "Routine, daily, painstaking work is underway. It will not be completed tomorrow or the day after. It is a process. But we expect a meeting of the first committee, and the creation of appropriate conditions for functioning – I mean logistical and material conditions for both the tribunal and the judges. So we are now moving into the implementation phase and the phase of operationalisation of the established Special Tribunal."

Details: Sybiha stressed that the legal establishment of the Special Tribunal is a historic event: "This is about the moral foundation of Europe. And we are now moving forward very quickly."

He noted that several foreign delegations were in Kyiv during the recent large-scale strike and experienced the attack first-hand.

Quote from Sybiha: "This became one of the strongest arguments for strengthening their support. The President instructed us to take response measures. On the diplomatic front, we immediately convened a [UN] Security Council meeting, which will take place on the 19th."

Details: Sybiha also said that a UN humanitarian convoy had come under attack in Kherson and Ukraine will also raise this incident at the Security Council meeting.

"Of course, we will also talk about the return of our prisoners of war and our children. This is the most prestigious and global diplomatic platform, which allows us to bring to the international community both the aftermath of Russian missile terror and the steps we need to take to bring a just peace closer," he explained.

In his view, it is also important to understand what Russia is trying to demonstrate with such strikes.

Quote from Sybiha: "This is, without a doubt, another slap in the face to all peace efforts. It is a mockery of American proposals, because an American delegation is also expected to arrive and a strike is carried out. Meanwhile, a meeting is taking place in China."

Details: Sybiha also expressed confidence that any Russian strikes cannot intimidate the Ukrainian people.

Quote from Sybiha: "On the contrary – there is even greater consolidation, both in Ukraine and among our partners. This is our response. And our response must be firm in all its forms."

Background:

• At a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 15 May, participants approved a key decision in the process of launching the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
• Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine responsible for issues related to holding Russia internationally accountable, commented on the historic decision to launch the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
• According to Mudra, the next stage will involve establishing the tribunal itself in The Hague, including appointing judges, approving procedures and launching investigations. She said the tribunal is expected to begin operating next year.

Read also: Trial for Lavrov and Putin: all about the tribunal for Russia that received Europe's blessing

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