The European Union has allocated the first €10 million to support the work of a Special Tribunal on the crime of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. EU Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas announced this decision on January 22, 2026, in a post on X.
EU’s first financial contribution
According to Kallas, the funds are the EU’s first financial contribution to the Special Tribunal, which is being established under the Council of Europe. She said the tribunal aims to hold Russia’s leadership accountable for its role in the war against Ukraine.
In her post on X, Kallas emphasized that Russia’s leaders are responsible for the war. She also stressed that there must be no impunity for the crime of aggression. Moreover, the EU and the Council of Europe have signed an agreement that allows the tribunal to start its work.
Background of the Special Tribunal
The idea to create a Special Tribunal to investigate Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine has been discussed since the start of the full-scale invasion. The formal agreement to establish the tribunal was signed in June 2025. The tribunal will complement existing international justice mechanisms, which lack full jurisdiction over the crime of aggression.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the slow pace of international efforts to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the war. He raised the issue during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Conclusion
The EU’s initial €10 million contribution marks a practical step in implementing the Special Tribunal mechanism on Russia’s crime of aggression. The EU has allocated funds, and it has signed an agreement with the Council of Europe. These steps provide the financial and legal foundation for the tribunal to begin its work.
