The launch of the special tribunal on Russian aggression marked a point of no return and a step toward The Hague, — Sibiga

The adoption of the agreement to establish a Special Tribunal on Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine marked a “point of no return,” and for Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian and Belarusian leadership, it amounts to a “one-way ticket to The Hague.” 

This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga during a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chisinau.

According to the foreign minister, the adoption of the relevant implementation agreement was a historic step and effectively laid the legal foundation for the operation of an international mechanism to hold those responsible for the aggression against Ukraine accountable.

“Today we have passed the point of no return. The special tribunal is becoming a legal reality. Very few people believed that this day would come. But it has come. A year ago in Lviv, we made a political decision. Just one year later, we have an implementation agreement. For international criminal justice, such speed is a true legal record,” Sibiga emphasized.

He stressed that the tribunal in The Hague must restore justice just as the Nuremberg Trials did after World War II.

Separately, the minister stated that the Russian leadership will be held accountable.

“Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, Medvedev, Patrushev, Lukashenko, and others have received their tickets to The Hague today,” he noted.

Sybiga also emphasized that Ukraine has faced aggression and crimes for centuries but has not received proper justice, and it is this new tribunal that must change this situation.

“The special tribunal will break this vicious cycle... But today is not the end. It is the beginning. There will be more countries. There will be a venue in The Hague. There will be a first committee. And there will be verdicts. Ukraine needs this. Europe needs this. And even Russia needs this Tribunal,” the Foreign Minister stated.

He added that accountability for crimes cannot be a matter of compromise, and that justice is a key condition for lasting peace.