On Friday, May 15, in Chisinau, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiha took part in the Ministerial Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

During the meeting, 37 countries adopted a decision to approve the Expanded Partial Agreement on the Establishment of the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine—the third founding document of the Special Tribunal.

Andrii Sybiha emphasized the urgency of establishing the Special Tribunal, recalling yesterday’s criminal Russian strike on Kyiv, which claimed the lives of 24 people, including three children.

“Like the Nuremberg Tribunal 80 years ago, this Special Tribunal in The Hague will restore justice amid the ruins of war,” the minister emphasized.

Andrii Sybiha noted that the moral foundation of Europe and the world will be restored only when the crime of aggression against Ukraine is punished. This is a matter of restoring a shared space of truth, justice, and trust. It is also about dignity.

“Putin has always wanted to go down in history. And this Tribunal will help him achieve that. He will go down in history. As a criminal. And not just him. Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, Medvedev, Patrushev, Lukashenko, and others. Today, they have all received their ticket to The Hague,” the minister noted.

According to the foreign minister, a point of no return was reached today—the Special Tribunal has become a legal reality. One year after the political decision was made, the implementation agreement was approved in Lviv, which is a true legal record in terms of speed for international criminal justice.

At the same time, Andrii Sybiha noted that this is only the beginning on the path to justice. “The number of participating countries will grow. Premises will be established in The Hague. The first committee will begin its work. And there will be verdicts. Ukraine needs this. Europe needs this. And even Russia itself needs this Tribunal,” he added.

The minister emphasized that the accountability framework will consist of three elements: the Special Tribunal, the International Compensation Commission, and the Register of Damages.

“Accountability will never be a matter for compromise. Justice is an indispensable element of lasting peace,” Andrii Sybiha emphasized.

The Foreign Minister also highlighted the leadership role played by Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, as well as the contributions made by the member states of the Council of Europe and the European Union in advancing this international initiative. He specifically expressed his gratitude to Moldova and his colleague Mihai Popșoi for their hospitality and successful presidency of the Council of Europe.

The expanded partial agreement on the establishment of the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal will define the administrative and managerial principles of its operation and create additional mechanisms to expand interregional support for the Special Tribunal. Both Council of Europe member states and third states may accede to the Agreement.