The establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine will be the central focus of the Ukrainian delegation during the spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which begins on April 20 in Strasbourg. According to the national news agency Ukrinform, Ukrainian representatives are actively pushing to transition the tribunal’s creation into a fully operational phase, aligning with the strategic legal framework previously outlined by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Yevheniia Kravchuk emphasized that this current PACE session serves as a crucial preliminary stage ahead of a major diplomatic gathering. On May 15, 2026, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the 46 member states of the Council of Europe will meet in Chisinau, Moldova. During this summit, the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is expected to be signed.
“Therefore, our attention will be focused on debates where we will urge our partners to intensify efforts to finalize the Special Tribunal,” Kravchuk stated. She noted that issues regarding the tribunal will be paramount for Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, following his address to the delegates.
The signing of the agreement in Chisinau will unlock the legal pathways for the ratification and funding of the Special Tribunal. Ukrainian diplomats intend to involve countries beyond the Council of Europe. For instance, nations like Canada, which have already joined the Register of Damage, are highly anticipated to participate in the tribunal’s formation.
For the Ukrainian delegation, achieving a practical outcome is vital. The goal is to move past the “zero point” by officially establishing the tribunal’s budget so that participating countries can begin making financial contributions. Up until now, the European Union has been the sole entity to provide practical funding to the preparatory efforts.
In addition to the legal mechanisms of accountability, the PACE session will host comprehensive debates on Russia’s ongoing hybrid war. Lawmakers will discuss the mechanics of the “Russian world” ideology and the practical application of hybrid aggression against Europe. This debate is being collaboratively organized by delegates from Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition.
The session’s agenda also includes addresses by prominent European figures, such as Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the annual report by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty.
The foundation for this judicial body was cemented on June 25, 2025, when Ukraine and the Council of Europe officially signed the agreement to create the Special Tribunal. Crucially, it will operate as an international body rather than a hybrid or national institution, ensuring its authority to overcome the immunities of Russia’s top leadership. With the major legal preparations completed, Kyiv expects the Special Tribunal to be fully operational by 2027.