Ukraine’s allies lean toward hybrid tribunal for Putin – DW

Senior officials in Brussels told DW that Ukraine's allies are still inclined to believe that the most realistic scenario is the creation of a hybrid tribunal to bring Russia to justice for its crimes.

The EU official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that according to EU experts in international law, an international tribunal based on Ukrainian jurisdiction is the most likely option for justice in this case.

"The tribunal will serve a political imperative, which is to bring to justice," the official said, adding that it is very important for the EU that Ukraine ratifies the Rome Statute.

As the European Commission emphasized, the creation of both a hybrid tribunal and a special international tribunal requires strong support from the UN. 

This is because Russia's highest political and military leadership is responsible for the crimes of aggression. But it has international immunity, which means that such a tribunal would require lifting the immunity of the head of the aggressor state, the head of its government, and the foreign minister.

• On March 24, it was reported that EU leaders supported the idea of creating a legal mechanism to bring the Russian leadership to justice for war crimes against Ukraine.