Zelenskyy signs documents to ratify deal on special tribunal for Russia’s crimes

Zelenskyy announced this in a message on Telegram.

“The agreement was recently signed between our country and the Council of Europe and now needs to be promptly ratified to initiate the real process of creating the tribunal. I have also instructed that the necessary legislative changes be prepared and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada as soon as possible to ensure Ukraine fully implements the agreement establishing the tribunal. I urge the members of parliament to consider this matter without delay,” the statement said.

Zelenskyy expects the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the President’s Office teams to quickly present a work schedule with partners for implementing the agreement and officially launching the tribunal.

“Russia must feel this year that their accountability for the crime of aggression is inevitable and that an international legal process to hold Russia responsible has truly begun. Aggression is a crime, and the sure punishment of Russia for this crime is a global interest shared by everyone in the world who wants peaceful lives for their people,” the president emphasized. 

• U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks and Michael McCaul introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives that condemns Russia for abducting and forcibly relocating Ukrainian children. The resolution urges Russia to return the children immediately.