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Europe Advances “Nuremberg-Style” Tribunal to Prosecute Russia’s Leadership for War of Aggression
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The Council of Europe’s Secretary-General has approved the transition from the signature-gathering phase to the operational stage in the establishment of a Nuremberg-style Special Tribunal aimed at prosecuting Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Officials announced the decision during a summit of 46 European foreign ministers in Moldova on May 15, according to Kyiv Independent.
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36 countries and the European Union have already committed to supporting the initiative, while the Netherlands has completed preparatory work to host the tribunal in The Hague.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the development as a landmark moment, saying: “Today is a historic day … The Hague will restore justice from the ruins of war.”
The proposed tribunal is designed to address a legal gap in international law, as no existing court has jurisdiction over the crime of aggression — defined as the decision to initiate and conduct an unlawful war.
Under the framework, the tribunal would focus on senior Russian officials, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin and members of his inner circle.
Sybiha also noted that Belarusian leadership, including Alexander Lukashenko, could be subject to proceedings, while other foreign actors allegedly involved in supporting Russia’s war effort may also be considered.
Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset stressed the need to move from political agreement to implementation, stating: “Action now needs to be taken to follow up on this political commitment by securing the Tribunal’s functioning and funding.”
Additionally, Andrii Sybiha described the agreement as a “point of no return,” arguing that it effectively sets the groundwork for future prosecutions of Russia’s top leadership.
He stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin, along with senior officials in Moscow and Minsk, have effectively received their “tickets to The Hague” as prospective defendants in international justice proceedings.
“Today we have passed the point of no return. The Special Tribunal is becoming a legal reality. Very few believed this day would come. But it has come. A year ago in Lviv we made a political decision. Just a year later, we have an implementation agreement. For international criminal justice, this speed is a real legal record,” Sybiha said.
Meanwhile, Russia’s economy slipped into contraction in the first quarter of 2026, pulling Belarus’s closely interconnected economy downward as well and raising the risk of stagflation, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported.
According to the assessment, Belarus recorded a 0.4% economic decline over the period, while Russia’s GDP fell by 0.3%. The downturn sharply diverged from earlier forecasts, which had projected growth of 2.8% for Belarus and 1.3% for Russia at the start of the year.
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-a0749991bfd4c747d1f2431173319c31.webp "Illustrative image. Russian Shahed drone factory. (Photo: open source)")
-5793c5670da590738fb56f66d1e9d3bf.png "Rare Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft moments before Ukrainian drone strike, May 15, 2025. (Source: Brovdi.Art/Facebook)")
