The OP spoke about the key stages on the way to launching a Special Tribunal on Russian aggression
Kyiv • UNN
An international coalition of 20 states has prepared the legal framework for the creation of the tribunal. The full operation of the court and the pronouncement of sentences are expected as early as 2026.
The Office of the President of Ukraine has outlined the stages that need to be overcome on the path to the full launch of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. This was reported by the OP, writes UNN.
Details
As noted, the main legal stage of work on the tribunal has now been completed. An international coalition of states has prepared the legal framework for the creation and launch of the tribunal, and it is now moving from the stage of political decision to practical launch.
Ukraine has already ratified a bilateral agreement with the Council of Europe. Since February 2026, an advanced group in The Hague and Strasbourg has been working to prepare the organizational launch of the tribunal.
On May 14-15, in Chisinau, the Council of Europe is expected to take the next step towards launching the Special Tribunal and conclude an agreement on its steering committee.
The support secured confidently exceeds the necessary minimum for signing the agreement. The first 20 states have already confirmed their intention to join. These are Austria, Great Britain, Iceland, Spain, Estonia, Costa Rica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Poland, Portugal, France, Croatia, Sweden, and Ukraine. This paves the way for the approval of the agreement in May, the launch of the Special Tribunal, and the accession of new states
After the preparatory stages are completed, the tribunal is expected to begin full operation, including investigations, indictments, judicial proceedings, and sentencing for the crime of aggression.
The following stages of work on the creation of the Special Tribunal are planned:
- Phase 1 (Skeleton Tribunal) – transitional stage. In The Hague, the "skeleton" of the institution is formed: 15 judges are selected for the registry, a registrar is appointed, core staff are gradually recruited, procedural rules are approved, international cooperation agreements are concluded, and administrative and technical infrastructure is created. At this stage, the tribunal does not yet administer justice but completes preparations for full launch.
- Phase 2 (full-fledged Tribunal) – full functioning of the Special Tribunal. After the preparatory stages are completed, the institution proceeds to exercise its jurisdiction: investigations, indictments, judicial proceedings, and sentencing for the crime of aggression begin. By this time, all key bodies must be formed, permanent premises, security infrastructure, and mechanisms for international cooperation necessary for the effective administration of justice must be provided.
Ukraine expects the Special Tribunal to be fully operational next year, the OPU added.