Zelenskyy Calls for War Crimes Trial Against Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be prosecuted as a war criminal for his role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy's call came after he signed an accord with the Council of Europe on Wednesday to establish a special international tribunal. This tribunal would be tasked with prosecuting Russian officials, including Putin, for the crime of aggression linked to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of holding Russia accountable for its actions, stating that aggression must lead to punishment, and this message should be delivered collectively by all of Europe. He further noted that it would require significant political and legal courage to ensure justice is served for every Russian war criminal, including Putin.

Putin is already facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The ICC accuses him of committing war crimes, including the unlawful deportation of children from occupied Ukrainian territories. However, while the ICC has the authority to investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, it lacks jurisdiction over crimes of aggression, which involve the illegal use of armed force by one state against another. This limitation of the ICC’s authority has led to the formation of the new special tribunal.

The tribunal being planned aims to fill this legal gap by addressing crimes of aggression specifically related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The tribunal could, in principle, bring senior Russian political and military leaders, including Putin, to trial. The location for the tribunal has yet to be finalized, but Zelenskyy suggested The Hague—already home to the ICC—would be the ideal place.

This marks the first time such a tribunal is being set up under the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights organization, which is separate from the European Union. The Council of Europe comprises 46 member states, including non-EU countries such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Turkiye. Notably, Russia was expelled from the Council in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier supported the establishment of the tribunal, noting that it would offer Ukraine a path to justice for top-level decisions made to invade its territory—something that no existing international court currently has the mandate to address.

In addition to targeting Russian officials, the tribunal could also potentially prosecute individuals from Belarus and North Korea who are found to have assisted Russia in the invasion. This broadens the scope of accountability beyond Russia alone, addressing the role of its allies in the conflict.

Moreover, the ICC is also seeking the arrest of four senior Russian commanders for their alleged role in targeting civilians during the conflict, showing a multi-layered international effort to seek justice for war crimes committed in Ukraine.

In sum, Zelenskyy’s push for a special tribunal underscores Ukraine’s determination to hold Russia’s leadership accountable at the highest levels. It also reflects growing international support for mechanisms that ensure justice for crimes of aggression—offenses that existing institutions like the ICC are currently unable to prosecute.