This happened the day after criticism of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The President said that “many meetings have taken place, but so far Europe has not even reached the stage of having a building for the tribunal with staff and real work that would take place within its walls.”
“What was missing: time or political will?” – Zelensky asked.
On the same day, the EU contributed the first €10 million to a special tribunal for the Russian leadership.
“The Council of Europe and the European Commission have signed an agreement to establish an advance team for the future Special Tribunal for Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine. This is a key step towards strengthening accountability, preparing the structures of the tribunal and supporting justice for Ukraine,” wrote X Berse on January 23.
The Council of Europe and the @EU_Commission @eu_eeas have signed an agreement to set up an advance team for the future Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. A key step towards strengthening accountability, preparing the tribunal's structures, and…
— Alain Berset (@alain_berset) January 23, 2026
Context
Ukraine insists on the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine, since the International Criminal Court and other similar institutions at this stage cannot consider cases of such crimes.
In April 2024, representatives of 44 countries in The Hague supported the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression. In addition, the need to create such a tribunal was supported by a number of European and international institutions, in particular the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the parliamentary assemblies of NATO and the OSCE.
On March 21, 2025, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that in Strasbourg, at the final, 14th meeting, the Core Group agreed on key documents to launch a special tribunal to investigate aggression against Ukraine.
In June, Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed an agreement on the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression.
The full version of the statute of the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is published on the website of the Council of Europe. In particular, it provides for the following theses: no immunities for aggressors; completely international jurisdiction; cooperation with the ICC rather than competition; full correspondence trials; legal establishment of truth.
The OP assumed that the special tribunal would begin work in 2026.
