Europe knows aggression when they see it. They are sick of Putin’s crimes of aggression against Ukraine. Some know they could be next. Now that Trump has cut off aid to Ukraine, now that Trump has shown his slavish devotion to Putin, Europe is stepping up to make Putin accountable for war crimes.
Euronews reports:
The tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine marks “the point of no return” in the search for justice, the country’s foreign minister said on Friday. But the court will face limitations in bringing Putin to justice.
Thirty-six countries, mainly from Europe, have signed up to a special tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which will be headquartered in the Dutch city of The Hague.
The joint pledge was formalised on Friday during the annual meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation that has taken the lead in addressing the jurisdictional gap left by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ministers endorsed a resolution laying down the structure and functions of the management committee that will oversee the tribunal. Among its tasks, the committee will approve the annual budget, adopt internal rules and elect judges and prosecutors. The countries commit to respecting the independence of the judicial proceedings.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, who took part in the ceremony, hailed the moment as “the point of no return” in the years-long search for accountability.
Very few believed this day would come. But it did,” Sybiha said on social media, evoking the spirit of the precedent-setting Nuremberg trials that brought to trial the surviving leaders of Nazi Germany.
“Putin always wanted to go down in history. And this tribunal will help him achieve this. He will go down in history. As a criminal,” he added.
Friday’s resolution was signed by Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.Australia and Costa Rica were the only non-European signatories. The European Union also endorsed the initiative, even if four of its member states, Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta and Slovakia, did not add their names to Friday’s resolution

Yes, I would say that the countries that colonized the world at the cost of millions of deaths certainly know aggression when they see it. The countries that have been arming and funding genocide for the past two and a half years certainly know aggression when they see it. The countries that helped the U.S. to destroy Yugoslavia, Libya, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Vietnam and many others certainly know aggression when they see it. Maybe they could look inward. Hypocrites, all of them.
LikeLike
Russia is a brutal dictatorship.
What colonies did Finland have?
Why did Finland and Sweden join NATO?
They fear Putin.
You always defend Putin.
LikeLike
Finland and Sweden were stupid for joining NATO. They were never in any danger from Russia.
And isn’t it funny that all of our enemies are called “dictatorships” but not our allies? Saudi Arabia? UAE? Qatar? All far more repressive than Russia, but you never hear about it. Do you ever wonder why?
LikeLike
Our Arab allies are mostly dictatorships but none are as brutal as Putin.
Finland and Sweden are not stupid. They are wise to join an alliance to stop Lutin.
Do you run a Putin fan club?
LikeLike
So, you agree that the major reason for the existence of NATO is to provide a common defense against the illegal territorial ambitions of Russia? That seems to be what you are saying–that countries should join if they are “in . . . danger from Russia.” Right?
LikeLike
The purpose of NATO was to defend against alleged Soviet aggression. I know this isn’t widely known on this blog, but the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. At that time, To Russia was promised that NATO (which actually had no further reason to exist) would not move “one inch” further east. That promise has been broken repeatedly and by many millions of inches. So it would seem that Russia is the one in need of defense from NATO aggression.
LikeLike
When has NATO invaded or attacked Russia?
LikeLike
Read what I wrote and think how the U.S. would react in a similar situation. Also, you know that Russia saw what NATO did to Yugoslavia, right? Do you think they’re just going to sit back and let that happen to them?
LikeLike
You must be the president of the Putin fan club.
LikeLike
And before you deny the promises given to Russia: NATO Expansion: What Gorbachev Heard | National Security Archive https://share.google/CaLAyMIn7iz6VCZdw
LikeLike
In 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Agreement with Russia, the UK, and the USA.
Ukraine agreed to give up its large nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees by the three major powers that they would respect and protect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.
Who broke that pact?
https://share.google/9SL2Hz3s9IeuhAp6I
LikeLike
You conveniently left out that the agreement called for Ukrainian neutrality. Maybe Ukraine should have thought of that before they began allowing NATO forces to amass in their country and started talking about joining NATO. Again, just imagine how the U.S. would react in a similar situation. Like, for instance, if Russia placed troops and/or weapons in Cuba.
LikeLike
Nope, Russia broke the Budapest Agreement by seizing Crimea in 2014, which was recognized as Ukraine.
Ukraine had the nerve to want to be a free, democratic nation. That outraged Putin, who then began to claim that Ukraine never existed. The West wanted Russia to join the civilized world, economically, and become part of the democratic world. Putin never would give up his iron grip on power. He is a dictator, who rules by murder. He has closed down the free press, he criminalizes speech, he hates gays.
I recall that you have trans son. He would be subject to harassment in Putin’s Russia, as in Trump’s America.
LikeLike
Trump stabbed Zelensky and Ukraine in the back, will he do the same for Taiwan. It’s not looking good, unless I am mistaken, Trump has made no clear and emphatic defense of Taiwan and its right to exist.
LikeLike
Trump appears to be in the middle of cutting Taiwan loose. It’s a shame. The people of Taiwan don’t want to be taken over by China. Every President since Trumannhas defended Taiwan. Trump knows nothing of history and doesn’t care.
LikeLike
My understanding is that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would be an economic catastrophe for the US economy. I expect Trump to do anything he can to cause that.
LikeLike
Roy,
I have the sickening suspicion that he wants to destroy our country. I don’t know why.
LikeLike
Long past time for this.
LikeLike
And then there needs to be an international tribunal to try Trump for war crimes as well.
LikeLike