• Europe has launched an International Claims Commission to assess Ukraine's reparations.
• The commission will evaluate claims for damages from the ongoing Russian invasion.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasizes the importance of accountability for peace.
• Discussions are ongoing regarding the use of frozen Russian assets for reparations.
• The commission has received over 80,000 claims so far, with significant funding challenges ahead.

European leaders have gathered in The Hague to establish the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, aimed at compensating the nation for damages incurred from Russia's ongoing invasion, which is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The treaty, signed by 35 nations, will focus on evaluating and deciding claims for reparations due to property damage and other harms resulting from the conflict, as affirmed by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the launch conference. This initiative follows the establishment of a Register of Damages, which has already received over 80,000 claims from Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera and AA.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the necessity of making Russia accountable for its actions, stating, “This war and Russia’s responsibility for it must become a clear example so that others learn not to choose aggression.” The establishment of the commission is seen as a critical step toward peace, with Zelensky advocating for reparations as a means of fostering accountability, coordinating through the 46-nation Council of Europe which oversees the commission's implementation, according to South China Morning Post and AA.

The commission faces substantial challenges regarding funding, particularly in relation to estimating and accessing frozen Russian assets, which total approximately €210 billion ($246 billion) within the EU. The commission aims to utilize these assets to support Ukrainian reparations; however, Belgium raises concerns over potential legal consequences involving the international deposit organization Euroclear, which currently holds a significant portion of these assets. There is a push to resolve these issues quickly, as expressed by Kallas, indicating the urgency in establishing a mutually agreeable solution, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

As Ukraine continues to endure the impacts of conflict, the commitment from European nations to establish this commission signals evolving international dynamics regarding the potential mechanisms for reparations. It further emphasizes a global consensus on the necessity of accountability for war crimes as part of any future peace agreements, with European leaders asserting their dedication to compensating victims of the war through cohesive action, according to Al Jazeera and AA.