A Austria has become a new participant in the agreement to establish a special tribunal for investigating the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This was announced by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, emphasizing that now 20 countries have joined the initiative, 19 of which are members of the Council of Europe.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Significance of Austria’s Joining and International Support
According to Andrii Sybiha, Austria’s participation in signing the agreement is evidence that even countries with a neutral status do not remain indifferent to global challenges. The minister specifically thanked his Austrian counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger for supporting the initiative and stressed the importance of accountability for establishing lasting peace in Europe.
“I am grateful to Austria and my colleague Beate Meinl-Reisinger for yet another confirmation that neutrality does not mean indifference. On the contrary, accountability is critically important for ensuring lasting peace on our continent”
The diplomat emphasized that each new country joining this agreement strengthens the inevitability of justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This process, according to Sybiha, contributes to strengthening Ukraine’s position on the international stage and supports the principles of international law.
Context of the Special Tribunal’s Creation
The initiative to create a special tribunal gained significant momentum after another massive missile attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities in April 2026. Andrii Sybiha has repeatedly called on countries around the world to join this agreement, highlighting the importance of collective responsibility for crimes of aggression.
In January 2026, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Burset, announced an agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Union to create a special group to prepare for a potential tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
On June 25, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Burset, signed an agreement to establish the Special Tribunal. After that, the president tasked the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with developing a clear plan of practical actions to launch the tribunal.
On July 1, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky signed the documents necessary for the ratification of the agreement to establish the tribunal, which is intended to hold accountable those responsible for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.