Europe stages its support for Ukraine with a symbolic visit and political endorsement of the special tribunal

Madrid – Representatives from more than thirty European countries, including EU foreign ministers such as the Spanish José Manuel Albares and the High Representative Kaja Kallas, arrived in Ukraine this Friday on a symbolic visit aimed at also serving as political backing for the creation of a new special tribunal regarding the conflict.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who addressed the international delegation, took the opportunity in his speech to emphasize the need for accountability, stating that “if a single war ends without punishment, there will be more.”

For this reason, he sees it as essential to judge the Russians “just like the Nazis” and has welcomed the steps to create the so-called Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, “so that any potential aggressor thinks twice.”

The president has thanked the political efforts to set up this tribunal — he admitted that “there is still much work to be done, both politically and legally” — but believes it is “a moral duty of Europe” to complete the work and establish a specific body in The Hague.

The court, proposed after two years of work around a group linked to the Council of Europe, is one of the major demands of Zelensky since the beginning of the conflict, pending to see how key issues are concretized and the extent to which it may affect the Russian Vladimir Putin, at least while he remains president.

Precisely, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, confirmed in a statement this Friday the achievement of the “political backing” for the aforementioned tribunal. However, he reminded that will alone is not enough and that “justice also needs resources,” urging to ensure the financial solvency of future instruments.

PLEA FOR COMMON VALUES

“Today, we celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine and its people,” highlighted the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, who appealed on social media for unity in favor of a “lasting peace.” “Because in a family, both joys and sorrows are shared,” she declared from Lviv.

Kallas states that “in a family, both joys and sorrows are shared”

Zelensky personally thanked this visit from a group of countries that, like Kyiv, “believe in International Law.” “It shows that we are all Europe,” emphasized the leader, who also sees a common will to “increase pressure on Europe” and continue supporting Ukrainian military capabilities.

“The desire to end the war must grow within Russia, and this starts with a feeling, the feeling that they are losing,” he added, “proud” of “a Europe that does not kill” in contrast to the invasion ordered by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in February 2022.

The Ukrainian government also does not hide its desire to accelerate steps to integrate into the European Union, as highlighted by Foreign Minister Andri Sibiga, at the end of a meeting with Kallas which was also attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal.

For Sibiga, it is “a historic meeting at a historic moment” that demonstrates Ukraine’s “key role” in defending values that are common. The ministers, including the Spanish José Manuel Albares, visited a cemetery to pay tribute to the victims of the Russian invasion. (May 9)