France has become the first major western state to publicly back the creation of a special tribunal to try senior Russian officials – potentially includingThe French foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it was working with its European partners on the proposal.
France’s announcement is a strong indicator that the west is becoming disillusioned with the prospect of negotiations with Russia. Ukraine started campaigning for the creation of a special tribunal in April but faced pushback from its western allies. For months, it secured support only from eastern European states such as Poland and the Baltic countries.
Von der Leyen said on Wednesday that any tribunal would require UN backing. She proposed setting up an independent international tribunal or a specialised court within a national justice system. Either way, Ukraine has said the number of states that support such a tribunal is key to enforcing any sentencing.