Overview
- Secretary General Alain Berset said the Council stands ready to support a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, noting the institution is not a negotiating party but its work aligns with key elements of the proposal under discussion.
- He outlined prospective support across elections, minority rights, religious tolerance, humanitarian issues, possible Venice Commission input on constitutional changes, and restoration of functioning institutions in de‑occupied areas.
- Berset stressed that any settlement must yield effects compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights, which would ultimately be assessed by the Strasbourg Court.
- The Council’s reparations architecture features the Register of Damage for Ukraine created in May 2023, which had over 27,500 applications by May 2025, and a draft Convention for an International Claims Commission approved by PACE on October 1 and by the Committee of Ministers on October 22.
- He said talks in Geneva have produced an articulated proposal, highlighted the December 16 Hague Diplomatic Conference as the first event focused on implementation, cited the November 19 Ternopil strike that killed 34 civilians, and welcomed facilitation by Switzerland and Türkiye.