France Joins Steering Committee of Special Tribunal on Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine France has announced its support for the creation of a Special Tribunal to address the crime of aggression against Ukraine and confirmed its intention to join the tribunal’s Steering Committee. The declaration was made by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot during his speech at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on April 20, 2026. Barrot stated that France supports establishing a Special Tribunal to try the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which would complement the work of the International Criminal Court. He emphasized that France will join the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal, with the goal of finalizing the committee’s composition at a meeting of ministers in Chisinau on May 14–15, 2026. The French foreign minister stressed that accountability must extend beyond war crimes to include the planning and waging of what he described as an unjustified war of colonial aggression against Ukraine. He recalled that the Council of Europe had already taken steps toward accountability by establishing the Register of Damage for Ukraine in 2023, but emphasized that compensation alone is insufficient. Barrot underscored that Russian leaders must answer for their actions, asserting that “there can be no peace without justice and no justice without truth.” He also addressed broader concerns about the state of the rule of law in Europe, warning that force is gaining the upper hand over law, human rights are under threat, and democratic institutions are increasingly being questioned. The initiative reflects growing international support for a dedicated judicial mechanism to prosecute the crime of aggression, a concept last pursued at the Nuremberg Trials following World War II. Unlike previous tribunals, this effort is being pursued while the conflict remains ongoing, highlighting the urgency felt by Ukraine and its allies to establish accountability mechanisms during active hostilities. France’s participation adds to a growing coalition of states backing the tribunal initiative. The country joins others who have affirmed their commitment to strengthening international legal responses to aggression, particularly through the Council of Europe framework. The proposed tribunal aims to fill a critical gap in international justice by focusing specifically on the crime of aggression—the planning and initiation of war—distinct from war crimes and crimes against humanity, which are already within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. By targeting senior leadership responsible for decisions to wage war, proponents argue the tribunal would uphold the principle that aggressive warfare carries individual criminal responsibility. As discussions advance toward the May ministerial meeting in Chisinau, France’s explicit commitment to the Steering Committee signals sustained European political will to pursue accountability for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, reinforcing the link between justice and durable peace.
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