Ukraine's leader says Russia's war — lesson against "aggression", urges asset seizure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine must become a lesson for others against aggression.

He made the remark addressing The Council of Europe in The Hague, where a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is being established, Caliber.Az reports per Sky News.

"We hope the tribunal for Russian aggression will truly begin its work, not just for us, but for everyone who wants peace in Europe," Zelenskyy said.

He also told assembled European leaders that the war in Ukraine "and Russia's responsibility for it must become a clear example so that others learn not to choose aggression."

"All pressure on Russia must remain in place as long as occupation of our land continue. Russia must feel that it is a criminal and face consequences for that."

Zelenskyy also reaffirmed his case for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine ahead of a key EU summit this week, where European hope to make a decision on the matter.

"Putin does not believe in people. He believes only in power and in money," Zelenskyy said.

"They do count every dollar and every euro they lose. That is why a strong decision on Russian money is needed," the Ukrainian leader added.

The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (often abbreviated as STCAU) is an ad hoc international criminal tribunal established to prosecute individuals—primarily senior Russian political and military leaders—for the crime of aggression in relation to Russia's invasions of Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion starting in February 2022.

On December 14–15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. envoys and European leaders in Berlin to discuss a potential peace framework for Ukraine. Hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the talks represented the most intensive multilateral effort yet to refine a U.S.-backed peace initiative.

Participants included French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions built on prior U.S.-mediated shuttle diplomacy and focused on aligning positions before potential year-end breakthroughs.

Officials described “real progress,” with U.S. sources claiming that 90–95% of a 20-point draft peace plan had been resolved. The talks addressed security guarantees, economic arrangements, mechanisms to monitor a ceasefire, and Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, including the use of frozen Russian assets. European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, opposed any repetition of the Minsk agreements, and proposed a potential temporary Christmas ceasefire.

By Khagan Isayev