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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Strasbourg for the first time since his presidency. During the visit, an agreement was signed between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This was reported by DW.
The signing of the agreement, as the Ukrainian leader emphasized, was the first step towards creating an international legal mechanism that will allow all those guilty of unleashing the war against Ukraine to be held accountable. Zelensky said that it is necessary to achieve real justice: "Every Russian war criminal, including Putin, must be brought to justice."
The document was signed in the meeting room of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Zelensky and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset signed the agreement. As Berset noted, the next stage will be the discussion of an extended partial agreement, which will allow the widest possible range of countries to join the initiative and support the activities of the tribunal.
Appeal to PACE deputies
Volodymyr Zelensky was greeted with a standing ovation in the session hall of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos greeted the Ukrainian leader with the words: "Welcome home!"
During his address, Zelensky noted that the Council of Europe was the first international institution to exclude Russia from its ranks after the start of full-scale aggression. He called on parliamentarians to make every effort to launch the tribunal as soon as possible, emphasizing: "We must not just discuss, but present real charges and pass real sentences."
The Ukrainian president also responded to criticism in some quarters that the West should focus on arms and technology supplies. "Justice is also a weapon. It must work so that war criminals have nowhere to hide," he said.
Answers to questions from deputies
During the session, Volodymyr Zelensky answered questions from representatives of various political factions of PACE. In particular, he stressed that the restoration of Ukraine requires the participation of European business now, and not only after the end of the war.
Commenting on the sanctions policy, Zelensky noted the need to tighten restrictions on Russia, especially in the banking and energy sectors. "This is necessary to reduce its military appetites and ability to wage war," he said.
In response to a question about the terms of peace, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will not accept any ultimatums and will not agree to peace at the expense of sovereignty. "Freedom has no price for us, and we are not selling our independence," he said.
End of the visit
Despite a tight schedule and a delayed arrival due to participation in the NATO summit in The Hague, Zelensky spent a full day in Strasbourg. After the meeting, he thanked those present, declined an offered cup of coffee and left the Palace of Europe late at night, continuing his international visit.
