EU poised to set up court to prosecute Putin, Kremlin officials

Ukraine and the European Union are poised to announce a special court aimed at prosecuting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leading Kremlin officials for orchestrating the invasion of their neighbour, according to the EU’s top diplomat.

“Tomorrow we will give the final political endorsement to the establishment of a war crimes tribunal,” Kaja Kallas told reporters following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw on Thursday. “There will be no impunity, there will be accountability for the crimes committed. Also those who have really started this war.”

Friday’s announcement is timed to coincide with Putin commemorating the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in Moscow. The final step is expected to happen at a gathering of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg next week.

The creation of a special court has been a long-term Ukrainian goal since the beginning of Russia’s invasion. As reports of atrocities committed by Russian troops occupying Ukraine territory started emerging in 2022, legal experts said a special tribunal could fill a hole in the international system.

Despite the goals of the tribunal, it’s unclear how it could ever bring Putin or his alleged accomplices to justice – at least in their lifetime – especially since it’s unlikely to be endorsed by the likes of US President Donald Trump.

The International Criminal Court, founded in 2002, investigates specific war crimes allowing punishment of direct perpetrators and possibly their direct commanders, but not high officials.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes related to the alleged abduction of children from Ukraine, but has left it to the court’s member countries whether to accept him on their territory or not.