Kyiv's EU allies endorse tribunal to try Russian leaders

LVIV (Ukraine), May 09 (Arab News): Ukraine's EU allies on Friday endorsed the creation of a tribunal to try Russia's top leaders over the invasion, as Kyiv pushes for Vladimir Putin himself to be brought to justice.

EU foreign ministers were gathering in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a symbolic show of support on the same day Russia commemorates the end of World War II with a grand military parade in Moscow.

European efforts to create the tribunal appear to have sped up since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, courting Putin in a bid to end the war and raising fears Moscow could escape justice for good.

"There is no space for impunity. Russia's aggression cannot go unpunished and therefore establishing this tribunal is extremely important," EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and other Russian officials for the forced deportation of children and strikes on Ukraine's energy targets.

But the ICC doesn't have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion in the first place.