European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, speaks to the press upon arrival at a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on December 9, 2025. PHOTO: Virginia Mayo / AP / Profimedia
The position of the European Union remains that Russia must be fully responsible for the crimes committed in Ukraine, and the EU bloc aims to become a founding member of both the Special Court for the investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine and the International Commission for Ukraine's compensation claims, the European Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, said in Brussels on Tuesday, according to Agerpres.
“Today I stressed the importance of establishing as soon as possible the Special Court for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Commission is preparing a proposal to sign the partially extended agreement on the special court with the desire to become one of its founding members. And today we encouraged member states to do the same. And we have already pledged 10 million euros to support the establishment of the special court,” said the senior European official at the end of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting from Brussels.
The European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection also stated that “justice for Ukraine also means reparations for the damage caused by Russia”.
“I have emphasized the importance of the rapid establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The Commission has already submitted a proposal for the signing of the convention providing for the establishment of the Compensation Claims Commission which will soon be approved by the Council and next week, on December 16, I will attend a diplomatic conference on the signing of the convention providing for this act. I encourage all member states to join us in this step,” pleaded McGrath.
Asked by journalists what chances these initiatives have to become a reality given that the amnesty for the crimes committed in Ukraine is also being discussed in the negotiations with Russia, the European commissioner said that “the EU's position continues to be that there must be full accountability for Russian crimes in Ukraine”.
“It is vital that there is justice for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people and for those who are victims of the crime of aggression committed by Russia to be given justice. That is why we will continue with our international partners with the official establishment as soon as possible of the Special Court for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, we will have the Commission on Compensation Claims for Ukraine”, he added, stressing that next week “will be a very significant turning point with the signing of the convention and the fact that the EU will become a founding member”.
The European Commissioner explained that the Community Executive's proposal for financing Ukraine's needs from Russian frozen assets provides, among other things, that they be used including for the payment of compensation to Ukrainians who suffered due to Russian aggression.
“It is more important than ever to be with the victims in Ukraine, those who were mourned, the women who were raped, the families who had children kidnapped and taken to Russia. We cannot wipe everything with a sponge, there must be justice, there must be accountability. We will do our work to achieve the necessary architecture, through the special court, through the Compensation Commission, through the proposals made (…)”, Michael McGrath said.
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