STRASBOURG, 25 June 2025 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Toursim, Hon. Ian Borg, presided over the historic signing of the agreement establishing the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The signing took place during Malta’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, marking a significant milestone in the international community’s pursuit of justice and accountability.
Deputy Prime Minister Borg and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Alain Berset, welcomed the President of Ukraine, Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to the Council of Europe for the signing ceremony. The agreement, signed by Ukraine and the Council of Europe, was approved by absolute majority at an extraordinary session of the Committee of Ministers chaired by Hon. Borg the previous day.
Addressing the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed Malta’s deep sense of responsibility in hosting this historical moment. “Following our recent tenure at the United Nations Security Council and the OSCE, as well as the hosting of the Ukraine Peace Formula talks in 2023, Malta is once again placing Ukraine at the heart of its multilateral agenda,” Hon. Borg stated. He reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to international law and its consistent support for Ukraine.
The Special Tribunal will address the crime of aggression, regarded as one of the gravest breaches of international law. Hon. Borg emphasised that the Tribunal’s purpose is to ensure justice and accountability. “Those who wield power will not be shielded by it. They will be held to account—not through retaliation, but through law. Not by vengeance, but through justice administered with fairness and due process,” he said.
The agreement is the result of three years of extensive legal and diplomatic negotiations led by a Core Group of nearly 40 states and international organisations, chaired by Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych. It complements the ongoing work of the International Criminal Court by specifically targeting the crime of aggression, which has often been beyond the reach of international prosecution.
The signing comes at a time of escalating aggression against Ukraine, with recent weeks witnessing some of the deadliest attacks since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Tribunal will operate under Ukrainian territorial jurisdiction and enjoy broad cross-regional support, reinforcing the international legal framework for accountability.
The Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe continues to place justice and accountability at the forefront of its agenda. As part of this commitment, Malta will now focus on the operationalisation of the Special Tribunal, alongside support for Ukraine through coordinated multilateral initiatives, including a future Claims Commission and Compensation Fund.
