The starting signal for special tribunal to Russia’s Ukraine attack

A group of more than 30 outdoor ministers and diplomats from Europe and partner countries has given the starting signal for an international special tribunal for the Russian attack war against Ukraine. The judge’s committee is to be settled in the Hague in the Dutch and hold the top representative of the Russian leadership. The round, in which Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel (DP) also took part, passed a corresponding statement at the special meeting in the West Ukrainian LWIW to get the tribunal on the way.

The decision should also be intended as a signal for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who intended on Friday in Moscow with a military parade to win the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945 and again justified the war against Ukraine there.

For Germany, the new Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) took part in the consultations. « It must not happen that this war, which is contrary to international law, remains without consequences, » he said. « Those who are responsible for this must also be held responsible by a legitimate court. » It is a « good sign that a large part of the free world and those countries that bear the regular order now sets off to create this institution ».

USA with Trump got out of support group

The EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said that the tribunal would « make sure that the main responsible for aggression against Ukraine will be held accountable ». The Russian war is well documented in the information age, « there is no room for impunity ». The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, who was switched on by video, said: « Russia has to be held accountable for his aggression like the Nazis at the time. »

WadePhul said that in a first conversation with his US colleague Marco Rubio in the evening he would advertise that the United States should return to the group of supporters of the tribunal. After US President Donald Trump took office, the United States had withdrawn from the support group. In addition to EU countries, the states that are committed to the committee also include Australia, Norway, Liechtenstein, Great Britain Costa Rica and Guatemala.

The group of states now wants to quickly formally ask the Council of Europe for a contract for setting up the tribunal. It is said to have its seat in the Dutch Den Haag, where several international legal organizations have already been located. Judgments should also be possible in the absence of the accused – after it is not to be expected in the foreseeable future that Putin can be personally brought to court. The tribunal is said to have 15 judges elected for nine years each. EU estimates assume total costs of one billion euros.