• European ministers support a special tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for the invasion of Ukraine.
• The tribunal aims to hold President Putin accountable, with a focus on crimes of aggression.
• A political agreement was reached during a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine.
• The tribunal will respect the current immunities of Russian leaders but prepare for future accountability.
• Financing initiatives involving frozen Russian assets were also discussed to support Ukraine's defense.

On May 9, European allies endorsed the establishment of a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting key Russian leaders for their roles in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This pivotal agreement was reached during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lviv, Ukraine, coinciding with Russia's commemoration of the end of World War II with a military parade in Moscow. EU foreign ministers signed off on the creation of the tribunal in a document known as the "Lviv statement," marking the completion of the necessary legal framework for this initiative, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

The tribunal is designed to hold President Vladimir Putin and his cabinet accountable for their actions during the invasion, emphasizing the principle that “there is no space for impunity,” as stated by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. She affirmed that the tribunal is crucial in ensuring that Russia's aggression is met with consequences. According to reports, while the tribunal could begin operations this year, its ability to prosecute individuals currently holding office is limited because of existing international legal protections, reports Reuters and Le Monde.

The move to form this tribunal gains urgency as Ukraine continues to press charges against Russian officials, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy labeling the tribunal a moral responsibility to hold aggressors accountable. He asserted that a robust tribunal system could deter future aggression from any potential perpetrator. As the EU's Kallas highlighted, "This tribunal will ensure that those most responsible for the aggression against Ukraine are held accountable," according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

In conjunction with the tribunal's establishment, EU leaders discussed funding mechanisms to tap into frozen Russian assets, potentially utilizing these funds to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities. This includes facilitating the maintenance of military equipment provided to Ukraine, as discussed by French officials. The aim is to ensure ongoing support for the Ukrainian defensive efforts while directly impacting Russia’s capacity to sustain its military actions, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.