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The International Claims Commission: Europe Launches Body to Secure Russia War Damage Compensation
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Europe launched an International Claims Commission for Ukraine to ensure compensation for the extensive damage caused by Russian attacks and alleged war crimes. The event, held in The Hague, brought together numerous leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and coincided with a US-led diplomatic effort to bring an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, as reported by Reuters on December 16.
“Every Russian war crime must have consequences for those who committed them,” Zelenskyy said before 34 European leaders signed a convention to formally establish the commission. “That's exactly where the real path to peace begins. It's not enough to force Russia into a deal. It's not enough to make it stop killing. We must make Russia accept that there are rules in the world.”
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While the establishment of the commission marks a significant step, it does not mean Ukrainians will see immediate reparations. Details on how damages will be paid are still being discussed. One option under consideration is using frozen Russian assets, supplemented by contributions from EU member states.
“The goal is to have validated claims that will ultimately be paid by Russia. It will really have to be paid by Russia; this commission offers no guarantee for the damages,`’ said Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, according to Reuters.
As reported by the outlet, the Register of Damage, a two-year-old initiative that will be incorporated into the claims commission, has already received over 86,000 claims from individuals, organizations, and public bodies in Ukraine covering various types of damages.
Kremlin continues to deny accusations of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. It has also condemned the EU’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s defense and recovery efforts, calling it illegal and threatening retaliation.
Efforts to compensate victims of abuses such as sexual violence, child deportations, and the destruction of religious sites could face challenges due to the potential inclusion of amnesty provisions for wartime atrocities in any future peace agreement, as suggested by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The claims commission is part of a broader international initiative to assist Ukraine’s recovery. The Council of Europe convention establishing the commission was drafted by over 50 countries and the EU and will begin its work once ratified by at least 25 signatories and sufficient funding is secured, Reuters reported.
The commission will evaluate and process claims submitted to the Register of Damage, which was created by the Council of Europe in 2023, and determine compensation on an individual basis. Claims can be filed for losses or harm caused by Russian actions in or against Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and can be made by individuals, companies, or the Ukrainian government.
The World Bank estimates that the cost of Ukraine's reconstruction over the next decade could reach $524 billion, nearly three times the country’s projected economic output for 2024. However, this figure does not include damage caused by the recent escalation of Russian missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure.
Earlier, it was reported that nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation for civilians is worsening, despite international focus on peace talks, warned the UN’s top human rights official.
Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that his office’s monitoring reveals the war is intensifying, with rising civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
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