The Council of Europe’s initiative to establish a Special International Tribunal to prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine is now at risk due to a lack of financial resources, Euronews reports.
Source: Pryamyi
According to the publication, without U.S. participation in funding, the project could become too costly for European nations, which are already bearing the main financial burden of supporting Ukraine.
The Council of Europe’s preliminary budget estimate for the tribunal is about €75 million per year, excluding infrastructure, security, and facility expenses. The EU plans to contribute only €10 million annually, while key potential donors — France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom — have not yet confirmed their readiness to finance the initiative.
Following the reduction of U.S. support, European partners are now covering most of the expenses, significantly complicating the tribunal’s launch.
The Council of Europe has not provided official comments, stating only that negotiations with member states are ongoing. To begin its work, the tribunal must secure the backing of at least 16 countries, though for investigating Russia’s aggression, that number could be even higher.
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