Latest news with #fortheCrimeofAggressionagainstUkraine
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov writes: The West and its echo chamber
On June 25, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement to establish what they are calling a 'Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine'. The aim is supposedly to 'hold accountable' Russia's political and military leadership for allegedly 'using force in violation of the UN Charter'. This move is just the latest in a series of anti-Russia legal stunts cooked up by Kyiv and its Western backers. Originally, Ukraine tried to push this so-called 'tribunal' through the United Nations. But the effort was largely ignored — unsurprisingly, given its pseudo-legal foundation. In fact, this is not the first time such overblown initiatives have fallen flat. Back in January 2024, the International Court of Justice threw out Ukraine's accusations that Russia had violated international conventions on terrorism financing and racial discrimination. Yet, Kyiv and Strasbourg still cling to the fantasy that this new 'tribunal' can somehow legitimise their anti-Russia narrative. To anyone outside the echo chamber of European politics, this whole idea seems delusional — but it is clearly designed to stoke fear among Europeans about the non-existent 'Russian threat', which NATO eagerly plays up to justify its own existence. Let's not forget: According to the UN Charter, only the Security Council has the authority to determine whether an act of aggression has occurred and to impose sanctions. Neither the Council of Europe nor Zelenskyy has that mandate. Since they cannot get their way through international law, they are trying to replace it with a notorious 'rules-based order' — a convenient excuse for applying double standards. For years, the West has brushed aside reality — ignoring Russia's legitimate security concerns, its right to self-defence, and its actions grounded in international law. These factors were key in escalating the Ukrainian crisis in the first place. Now, this tribunal push feels like nothing more than a desperate attempt by Europe to shield Kyiv from an investigation into its own numerous war crimes and to mask the strategic missteps in their reckless bid to 'defeat' Russia at any cost. Russia's stance on all this has been loud and clear: These schemes have no legal weight. They have no legitimacy and are not about justice or peace. To the contrary, they make a peaceful resolution even harder to achieve. Now that the agreement has been signed, Kyiv and Strasbourg are shopping this tribunal idea around to countries outside the region — particularly in the Global South. The strategy is to create a precedent that turns this legal fiction into a new tool of neo-colonial pressure against anyone who refuses to toe the line of the West. The endgame is as clear as it is cynical. What is especially troubling is the timing. These moves come just as fragile negotiations are resuming — a clear attempt to sabotage any chance at dialogue. And they go hand-in-hand with Kyiv's daily drone attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, deep inside our territory. Europe turns a blind eye, sticking to its one-sided narrative and pretending not to see the bigger picture. It is more proof that the creators of this tribunal are not interested in peace — they are playing politics, plain and simple. Russia's position has not changed: We remain committed to a diplomatic solution, one that addresses the root causes of the conflict and reflects the facts on the ground. Russia's leadership has said it time and again — the longer this conflict drags on, the worse the eventual terms will be for Ukraine. Europe is now doing everything to make that happen. The writer is Russian Ambassador to India
Euronews
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Zelenskyy and Council of Europe to launch tribunal for war in Ukraine
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Alain Berset have signed an agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The special tribunal aims to prosecute senior Russian leaders for 'the countless war crimes' Ukraine accuses Russian forces of committing since the start of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Existing international courts, including the International Criminal Court in The Hague, lack jurisdiction to prosecute Russian nationals for that specific offence. 'Justice for Ukraine will not wait,' Berset said ahead of the signature ceremony with Zelenskyy. 'For the first time, a dedicated international tribunal is being created to address the crime of aggression. Established within the framework of the Council of Europe, this tribunal will hold to account those who have used force in violation of the UN Charter,' he added. Zelenskyy referenced tribunals held to try Nazis after World War II and the one in The Hague which tried individuals accused of war crimes during the wars in the former Yugoslavia, arguing that they should be a basis for how Russian officials need to be held to account. 'We all remember the tribunal that brought justice after the horrors of Nazism. And the world will never forget Nuremberg. Years later, when hate and war returned to parts of Europe, another tribunal was needed, this time for the crimes in the former Yugoslavia,' said Zelenskyy in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE. 'Now we need the same for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This crime must be judged clearly and thoroughly. The world needs an honest, historic verdict, so everyone responsible for this war must be held to account,' added the Ukrainian leader. Zelenskyy expressed optimism that the tribunal is a 'real chance' to finally restore some justice to the people of Ukraine who have suffered 'unspeakable crimes' at the hands of Russian forces. Zelenskyy also urged for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he accused of being a 'war criminal' to be tried. "Other institutions, even international ones, don't have the tools to do this. And we need to show clearly aggression leads to punishment." Logistical details remain to be resolved, including the location of the court. The Hague has been suggested due to its existing legal infrastructure, which Zelenskyy says would be a 'perfect' location, but no final decision has been made. The institution will be funded by supporting countries known as the Core Group, which consists of 40 states. The United States backed the project under former President Joe Biden, but President Donald Trump's administration did not support the initiative.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU and UK call on Russia to show its readiness for peace in Ukraine at joint summit
During their first bilateral summit after Brexit, the EU and the UK have called on Russia to fully and unconditionally cease fire in Ukraine. Source: European Pravda with reference to a joint statement following the EU-UK Leaders Summit 2025 Details: In the statement, the leaders of the UK and the EU reaffirmed their strong condemnation of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and confirmed their firm and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Quote: "We also reconfirmed our unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed." Details: The leaders also called for a complete and unconditional ceasefire and meaningful negotiations for genuine peace aimed at ending the war and restoring comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Quote: "As in the past, it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace." More details: The leaders also reaffirmed their readiness to continue exerting pressure on Russia, including by maintaining sanctions and taking measures to prevent their circumvention, sectoral measures, and oil price restrictions, as well as by ensuring that Russian sovereign assets remain frozen until Russia ends its war against Ukraine and makes reparation for the damage caused by that war. Quote: "We are committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression, including by the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine." More details: In addition, the EU and the UK expressed their support for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, mentioning in this context the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Italy in July 2025. Background: Earlier in the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa arrived in London for the first UK-EU summit. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Nahar Net
09-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
EU pledges 1 bn euros of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine defence firms
by Naharnet Newsdesk 09 May 2025, 14:32 The EU on Friday pledged to disburse one billion euros ($1.1 billion) from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to Ukrainian arms companies as part of its support to Kyiv as it fights off Moscow's invasion. "We have just made available 1 billion euros for the Ukrainian defense industry so that Ukraine could better defend itself," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The funding would "directly support Ukrainian defense companies", she added. Kyiv's EU allies also approved on Friday a tribunal to try Russian leaders for "the crime of aggression against Ukraine". "We welcome the completion of the technical work on the draft legal instruments necessary to establish within the framework of the Council of Europe a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine," said a joint statement published by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
