Current Push for Ad Hoc War Crimes Tribunal for Ukraine
Allies of Ukraine, as suggested by Kallas, aim to illuminate a makeshift court with the color green. - Allies of Ukraine, led by Kallas, aim to endorse a specialized tribunal
There's a growing movement to establish an ad hoc international tribunal focusing on punishing the "crime of aggression" against Ukraine. This venture involves the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe, Ukraine, and multiple other nations. The primary purpose is to hold political and military leaders from Russia accountable for their actions in the ongoing conflict. However, it's important to note that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague will still be responsible for prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine.
Recently, the EU has been working on the 17th sanctions package against Russia, which is underway. This package might be adopted during the next official meeting of EU foreign ministers in June.
During an informal meeting in Warsaw, EU foreign ministers discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine extensively. Notably, Germany was represented for the first time by the new Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) in this meeting. Later in June, EU foreign ministers are scheduled to visit Lviv in western Ukraine, at the invitation of their Ukrainian counterpart Andrij Sybiha, to commemorate the end of World War II.
Wadephul embarked on his first foreign trip, traveling to Paris and then Warsaw on Wednesday. He met with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski there to discuss the tighter border controls announced by the new German government. Sikorski expressed understanding for the German stance, but he called for "technical solutions" to minimize inconvenience for local residents.
On the domestic front, the new German Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), announced stricter border controls to limit refugee numbers. As a result, more federal police will be deployed at German borders, and asylum seekers will be rejected in the future.
These German plans have drawn criticism, particularly from neighboring countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk argued at a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) that it was crucial for both Germany and Poland to maintain "free passage" between the countries.
[1] Council of Europe, "Proposal for a Convention on the Establishment of an International Ad Hoc Tribunal for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Committed by Russian Forces in Ukraine", 2023.[2] European Parliament, "Resolution on the establishment of an international ad hoc tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression committed by Russian forces in Ukraine", 2023.[3] Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Statement of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Regarding the Proposal for an International Ad Hoc Tribunal", 2023.[4] International Criminal Court, "The Crime of Aggression", 2010.
- The Council of Europe has proposed a convention on the establishment of an International Ad Hoc Tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.
- The European Parliament has also supported this initiative with a resolution on the establishment of an international ad hoc tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement in support of the proposal for an International Ad Hoc Tribunal focusing on punishing the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
- Despite the International Criminal Court in The Hague being responsible for prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine, this proposed ad hoc tribunal aims to hold political and military leaders from Russia accountable for their actions in the ongoing conflict.
- The ongoing discussion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the European Parliament, particularly in light of the proposal for an ad hoc war crimes tribunal, underscores the continued importance of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news in the EU's agenda.
