Europeans pledge support for ukraine war crimes tribunal

In a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, political figures and foreign ministers from about 20 European countries met on Friday, May 9, 2024, to discuss the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a Council of Europe summit, the foremost human rights body on the continent since its founding after World War II to uphold rights and the rule of law. The move comes as Russia intensifies its attacks in Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022. Kyiv says Russian forces have committed thousands of war crimes. The discussions among diplomats and foreign ministers of the European Union in Lviv on Friday are aimed at supporting Kyiv appropriately, given "Europe Day". Ukraine seeks a special tribunal since the start of the conflict, accusing Russian forces of committing thousands of war crimes and singling out Russia's leadership for the crime of aggression.