Europe launched an International Claims Commission for Ukraine yesterday in an effort to ensure Kyiv is compensated for hundreds of billions of dollars in damage from Russian attacks and alleged war crimes.
The gathering in The Hague of dozens of leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy coincided with a US-orchestrated diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine that was triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“Every Russian war crime must have consequences for those who committed them,” Zelenskiy said, before 34 European leaders signed a convention to formally launch the commission at yesterday’s gathering in The Hague.
The establishment of the claims commission does not mean Ukrainians can expect swift reparations for damages.
The two-year-old Register of Damage, which will become part of the claims commission, has already received over 86,000 claims submitted by individuals, organisations and public bodies in Ukraine under a wide range of categories.
Russian officials were not immediately reachable to comment on the commission.
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