On Sunday night, the ministers issued a joint statement calling on the EU to continue supporting the ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC), by Ukraine itself as well as a number of other states since they “play a key role” in collecting evidential materials, identifying and punishing those responsible for the war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
“Our efforts, however, must not end there. Currently, there is no international court or tribunal that could bring Russia’s top political and military leadership to account for committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.
The joint statement was issued on the eve of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
Foreign ministers of the three Baltic countries also stressed that the Special Tribunal for the Punishment of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine would complement the role of the ICC instead of duplicating its functions.
The ministers stressed that recent deliberate targeting of civilian homes, schools and even playgrounds, as well as civilian infrastructures across Ukraine “is just the latest episode of Russia’s unprovoked terror campaign against Ukrainian people”.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated separately that “aggression is a crime and warrants thorough trial”.
“The EU must ensure that pursuing accountability for Russia’s continued aggression and war crimes in Ukraine is the center of EU’s policy and activities,” he said in a Twitter post.