Overview

• The agreement, signed in Strasbourg, establishes a special tribunal to prosecute senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression behind Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.
• Designed to complement the ICC, the tribunal will address the fundamental decision to invade that lies outside the court’s mandate.
• Organizers are considering The Hague as the tribunal’s base, with hearings expected to begin in early 2026 once member states ratify the accord.
• A Core Group of countries led by the Netherlands, Japan and Canada has pledged funding, and an expanded accord will invite additional nations to support and help manage the court.
• Ukraine and its European partners regard the tribunal as a crucial instrument for upholding international law by ensuring that planners of aggression face justice, potentially including President Putin.