EU seeks specialized court to investigate Russia’s war crimes

The European Union has proposed a UN-backed tribunal to investigate possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine and use frozen Russian assets to rebuild the war-torn country.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would work with international partners to secure “the broadest possible international support” for the court, while continuing to support the ICC’s work.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, his troops have been accused of abuses ranging from killings in the Kyiv suburb of Buta to deadly attacks on civilian installations, including a March 16 attack in Mariu. A theater in Ball was bombed and nearly 600 people may have died, the Associated Press established an investigation.

Military crimes committed during the war in Ukraine are being investigated across Europe, with the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, already open.

Ms von der Leyen said it was estimated that more than 20,000 Ukrainian civilians and more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died since the war began.

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska also urged accountability for Ukrainian aggressors when she addressed lawmakers in London on Tuesday.

“Victory is not the only thing we need. We need justice,” she said, comparing Russia’s war crimes to the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany in World War II.

She called on the UK to lead the establishment of a criminal court to prosecute senior Russian officials over the invasion, similar to the postwar Nuremberg trials of leading Nazis.

Ms von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc wanted to make Russia pay for the damage it caused in neighboring Ukraine by using Russian assets frozen under sanctions.

She estimated Ukraine’s losses at €600bn (£518bn).

“Russia and its oligarchs must compensate Ukraine for its losses and pay for rebuilding the country,” Ms von der Leyen said. “We have the means to make Russia pay.”

Ms von der Leyen said 300bn euros (£259bn) of Russia’s central bank reserves had been frozen and 19bn euros (£16bn) of the funds of Russian oligarchs had been frozen.

“In the short term, we can work with our partners to create a structure to manage these funds and invest them,” she said.

“Then we will use the proceeds for Ukraine, and once the sanctions are lifted, these funds should be used to fully compensate Russia for the damage caused to Ukraine.”

The EU said the lifting of restrictions on Russian assets could be linked to a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that would address damages.