Special tribunal for Putin: EU allocates initial €10 million
23 January 10:33
The European Union has transferred the first €10 million to finance the work of a special tribunal investigating the role of leading Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, in Russia’s criminal aggression against Ukraine.
This was announced on social media by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Russian leaders are responsible for this war, and they must be held accountable. There can be no impunity,” Callas said, noting that a corresponding agreement had been signed with the Council of Europe.
Creation of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe officially initiated the process of establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in May 2025. This was preceded by a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The UN defines the crime of aggression as the use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another country.
In June 2025, the Council of Europe concluded an agreement with Ukraine on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression by Russia against Ukraine. The document was signed in Strasbourg by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. As part of this investigation, events will be examined starting from February 2014, rather than 2022, when full-scale war began.
The decision to allocate the first €10 million in EU funding for this special tribunal was made in October 2025.
When Putin could face trial for the war in Ukraine
The investigation will focus on Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The Council of Europe does not have the same powers as the UN Security Council to lift the personal immunity of the country’s three highest officials — the president, prime minister, and foreign minister — so they can only be brought to justice after they leave office.
The tribunal project provides that an indictment may be prepared as a result, although the court will not be able to bring charges or issue an arrest warrant until immunity is lifted. In total, about two dozen Russian officials from the list compiled by Kyiv are expected to appear in the case.
