Britain Backs Nuremberg‑Style Trial for Russian Aggression

The United Kingdom has announced its support for a Nuremberg‑style tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for “crimes of aggression” committed during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The plan will be tabled at next month’s session of the Council of Europe, where Ukraine will formally propose establishing an ad hoc military tribunal under international auspices Telegraph .

This endorsement comes despite former U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to back a parallel G7 statement in February that explicitly labelled Russia as the aggressor in the war—and his broader withdrawal of U.S. funding from the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) in The Hague  .

Under the UK‑supported model, the tribunal would operate on the basis of a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, granting it jurisdiction to try individuals responsible for planning and executing the unlawful use of force against Ukraine.  Proponents argue that this framework combines Ukrainian territorial authority with robust international guarantees, ensuring both legitimacy and impartiality  .

Senior British officials have signalled that London will join a majority of European states in backing the proposal, signalling a renewed emphasis on European leadership in holding Russia to account—particularly in light of the United States’ decision to step back from prosecution efforts  .

NGO Justice and Accountability for Ukraine (JAFUA) welcomes the UK’s commitment and calls on all Council of Europe members to unite behind this initiative. “A tribunal of this nature is essential to prevent impunity for the supreme international crime of aggression,” said a JAFUA spokesperson. “Without it, the global rules‑based order risks further erosion.”

The JAFUA team will continue to monitor developments at the Council of Europe and engage with member states to ensure that the tribunal is established swiftly and with the international character it requires.