Overview

• Ministers from nearly 20 European nations signed the 'Lviv statement,' marking the completion of legal groundwork for a special tribunal on Russian aggression.
• The tribunal, established under the Council of Europe, aims to prosecute approximately 20 high-ranking Russian officials responsible for planning and executing the invasion of Ukraine.
• Operations are expected to begin in 2026, with the Council of Europe formalizing procedures and appointing judges, prosecutors, and staff later this year.
• The European Union pledged €1 billion to bolster Ukraine's defense industry, complementing the tribunal's goal of accountability and deterrence.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the tribunal's importance in preventing future wars by ensuring justice for acts of aggression.