site.btaEU Joins Deal on Ukraine Aggression Tribunal

The European Commission joined the EU to the agreement on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine on Friday. The agreement sets the terms for the special court’s work.

Following the decision, participating countries and organizations can ratify the documents formally establishing the tribunal. The special tribunal will be empowered to investigate and prosecute senior Russian political and military officials over the military attack on Ukraine.

The Commission said it also ratified on Friday, on behalf of the EU, the agreement establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The EU is among the founders of the international body, which will review, assess and decide compensation claims for losses and damage Russia caused to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. It will also determine the compensation due in each case. The Claims Commission can begin work once it secures 25 ratifications with sufficient financial participation, the Commission added.

The European Commission is providing EUR 10 million for the tribunal and up to EUR 1 million for the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The special tribunal and the Claims Commission will be the main international bodies working to ensure full accountability for international crimes and compensation for acts committed in Ukraine. The tribunal’s founding texts were politically approved by a coalition of countries and international organizations on May 9, 2025.

Earlier this month, EU countries authorized the European Commission to take part in adopting an agreement on the special tribunal and later to join it as a founding member. In December 2025, the EU and 35 other countries signed the convention establishing the Claims Commission, covering damage such as serious bodily injury, deprivation of liberty, sexual violence, loss of housing or place of residence, and the deportation of children.

This week, the Council of the EU, with the European Parliament’s consent, adopted a decision authorizing the EU to become a founding member of the Claims Commission.