Sybiga: Ukraine Expects Legal Approval of Special Tribunal for Russian Aggression in May

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga announced during a televised marathon that Ukraine is hopeful for the legal establishment of an agreement to create a Special Tribunal for investigating crimes of aggression by the Russian Federation as early as May this year. He emphasized that this issue is extremely important for Ukraine, which seeks justice for the crimes committed against its people.

Sybiga noted that during a meeting of the European Union foreign ministers held in Kyiv on March 31, 13 member states of the bloc, along with one country from outside the EU, expressed their intention to join the agreement regarding the Special Tribunal. According to the minister, a total of 16 countries have already provided preliminary confirmation of their participation in this agreement, which is the necessary legal minimum for its implementation.

"According to the procedure, we need 16 countries. We already have preliminary confirmation from that number of countries, but they are going through the necessary procedures. This is important because the next significant step in creating the Special Tribunal will be the meeting of foreign ministers of the Council of Europe in Chișinău in May. Therefore, it is crucial that we have reached this number of states to legally and formally establish the tribunal," Sybiga emphasized.

It is worth recalling that recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga also reported that Germany, Britain, and Moldova confirmed their readiness to join the agreement on the Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine. These countries have become important partners in Ukraine's efforts to establish justice and punish those responsible for war crimes.

Additionally, on January 23, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and the European External Action Service signed an agreement to create a group that will prepare the Special Tribunal for investigating the crime of aggression by the Russian Federation. This step has sent an important signal to the international community about Ukraine's serious intentions in holding the aggressor accountable.

Furthermore, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaia Kallas, announced the first 10 million euros allocated by the European Union for the establishment of the Special Tribunal regarding the crime of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. These funds will serve as the foundation for financing the tribunal's operations and ensuring its functionality.

The situation regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine remains at the forefront of international attention. The establishment of the Special Tribunal is a significant step in the fight for justice and accountability for the crimes committed. However, as practice shows, there are countries that attempt to hinder processes related to international justice, while others actively support Ukraine in its aspirations.

The Ukrainian side hopes for continued support from international partners and is ready to cooperate in creating an effective mechanism that will hold accountable those responsible for crimes against humanity.