European Union takes decisive steps to ensure accountability for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, the document setting out the institutional, financial, and administrative modalities of the Special Tribunal. Following today’s decision, participating states and organisations will be able to ratify the Convention which will officially establish the Special Tribunal. The Special Tribunal will have the power to investigate and prosecute senior Russian political and military leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.  

Today,  the Commission also ratified, on behalf of the EU, the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. This body, of which the EU is now a founding member, will be responsible for reviewing, assessing, and determining claims for compensation for the damage, loss and injury caused by Russia to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. It will also be responsible for determining the amount of compensation due in each case. The Claims Commission will be able to start its work after it has gathered 25 ratifications with sufficient financial contributions.

The Commission is financially supporting the establishment of the Claims Commission and the Special Tribunal to ensure they can become fully operational as soon as they enter into force. This includes €10 million for the Tribunal and up to €1 million for the Claims Commission.

The Special Tribunal and the Claims Commission will be the fundamental international bodies ensuring full accountability for the international crimes, and compensation for damages, committed in Ukraine. The EU has played a leading role in their establishments, including in drafting the founding legal texts of the Special Tribunal. The founding texts of the Tribunal were politically endorsed by an international coalition of states and international organisations on 9 May 2025.

Next steps

The European Union is committed to supporting Ukraine and its people in their pursuit of justice and accountability. The Commission will continue to work with international partners to finalise the groundwork for the conclusion of the Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Special Tribunal. The Commission will then submit a proposal for the EU to become a founding member of the Tribunal.

In June, the signatories of the Convention establishing the Claims Commission will meet at technical level to prepare practical arrangements for the Claims Commission to launch its operations. The Convention will enter into force after 25 ratifications with sufficient financial contributions. The Claims Commission will then be able to start its work.

Background

On 5 May, Member States adopted a Decision authorising the Commission, on behalf of the EU, to participate in the adoption of the Enlarged Partial Agreement, expressing the EU’s intention to join the Tribunal as a founding member at a later stage.

In December 2025, the European Union, alongside 35 other states, signed the Convention establishing the Claims Commission. The Claims Commission builds on the important work carried out by the Register of Damage, which was established in May 2023 to record claims, such as serious injury, deprivation of liberty, sexual violence, loss of housing or residence or deportation of children. Through the Register, Ukraine and its people can so far submit claims for 18 categories of damages. On 11 May, the Council adopted a Decision, with consent of the European Parliament, authorising the Union to become of a founding member of the Claims Commission.

The Commission also supports accountability for the crime of aggression through the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine at Eurojust.The  EU also supports Ukrainian authorities to strengthen their capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes committed in Ukraine, with assistance from the EU Advisory Mission. In addition, the EU provided further funding to the International Criminal Court to enhance its investigative capabilities, expand its data storage and processing infrastructure, and develop additional analytical resources.

For more information

Holding Russia accountable

Register of Damage for Ukraine

International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine