Europe’s Future Depends on Justice, Ukraine’s Envoy to the Council of Europe
Ukraine is building the foundations of a future system of justice in Europe, where Russia will be held fully accountable for its war of aggression, said Mykola Tochytskyi, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, in an interview with the television channel FREEДОМ.
The Gaze reports this, referring to UATV Ukrainian.
Tochytskyi outlined Kyiv’s progress on establishing an international tribunal for the crime of aggression, creating a compensation mechanism for war damages, and strengthening Ukraine’s role as a pillar of European democracy.
“Our goal, like that of every Ukrainian, is victory – and victory means restoring respect for international law,” he said. “The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 to prevent new wars, and it was the first to show Russia the door for violating democratic principles.”
Special Tribunal and Compensation Fund in the Making
According to Tochytskyi, the Council of Europe has already approved a Register of Damage and is preparing to launch a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
The agreement to establish the tribunal was signed on June 25 by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, marking a milestone in international legal accountability.
A diplomatic conference in December 2025 is expected to formally endorse the mechanism, while the next step will be the creation of a compensation fund that will channel frozen Russian assets toward rebuilding Ukraine.
“We are convinced that Russia must pay a price for its crimes. That is the only way to deter future aggression,” Tochytskyi stressed.
He noted that while many European Union states support using frozen Russian assets, legal debates continue over ensuring a watertight framework immune to Russian appeals.
The Netherlands Ready to Host the Tribunal
Progress is accelerating, Tochytskyi said, thanks to the work of the JIT Tribunal group, which coordinates daily on the legal and procedural roadmap.
He welcomed the recent statement by Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, who declared that the Netherlands is prepared to host the special tribunal on its territory – a step Tochytskyi called “a powerful signal of political and moral support.”
The tribunal will be based on an open agreement, allowing all countries that share the Council of Europe’s principles to join both legally and financially.
Ukraine’s Soft-Power Front
Beyond legal instruments, Ukraine is waging a parallel struggle on the cultural front, Tochytskyi noted.
Through partnerships with Kyiv-based creatives and NGOs such as Watch Ukrainian, the Permanent Mission is producing films, exhibitions, and educational projects to deepen European understanding of Ukraine’s resilience.
Projects include the upcoming films “Yaroslav the Wise – Father-in-Law of Europe” and “Palyanytsia,” as well as the introduction of a Ukrainian audio guide at the Rohan Museum in Strasbourg, an initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“Russia has always needed external enemies to preserve its power – today that enemy is Ukraine,” he said. “Our task is to show Europe who truly threatens democracy.”
Council of Europe’s Renewal Through Ukraine
Tochytskyi believes Ukraine has reinvigorated Europe’s oldest democratic institution, reminding it of its founding purpose.
“Ukraine helped these institutions realize that war is no longer far away,” he said. “Drones now fly not just near Europe’s borders but over EU capitals.”
He warned that Russia’s modern aggression includes not only missiles and drones but also propaganda and disinformation powered by technology and artificial intelligence – challenges the Council of Europe must counter through education, culture, and critical thinking.
Looking ahead, Ukraine plans to organize a film festival in Strasbourg next year dedicated to its struggle for freedom and justice.
“The Council of Europe is not just a historic organization,” Tochytskyi concluded. “It is a guardian of law and democracy – and together with our partners, we will make sure justice prevails.”
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukraine has also joined more than 30 European nations in endorsing a new declaration that recognizes culture, heritage, and independent media as essential safeguards of democratic societies.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukraine’s Government Action Program 2025–2026: Building a Resilient State Through Defense, Reforms, and European Integration