Is security in Europe possible without condemning crimes committed in Ukraine?

On November 29, 2022, an international conference titled “Is Security in Europe Possible Without Judging the Crimes Committed in Ukraine?” was held at Sciences Po in Paris. The event was organized by the Ukrainian NGO Tribunal with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation, in cooperation with Sciences Po, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Franco-Ukrainian association Unis pour l’Ukraine, the journal Esprit, and the think tank Synopia.

The conference followed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s initiative, presented in Brussels in September 2022, calling for the establishment of a Special International Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The discussion brought together Ukrainian and international officials, legal experts, academics, journalists, and civil society representatives to examine the role of justice in restoring peace and security in Europe.

Key Themes and Discussions

The event opened with keynote contributions from Olexandra Drik, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and representative of the Center for Civil Liberties, alongside representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who joined online. Discussions focused on the legal and political necessity of prosecuting the crime of aggression as a prerequisite for ending the war and preventing future conflicts.

Two main panels addressed:

• The prosecution of the crime of aggression as a pathway out of war, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing aggression from war crimes and crimes against humanity; and

• The role of international tribunals in maintaining global order, including historical precedents, the preventive function of international criminal justice, and Europe’s responsibility in supporting accountability mechanisms.

Speakers included Ukrainian diplomats and parliamentarians, prominent international jurists, historians, and scholars specializing in international criminal law and European security.

Contribution to International Justice Advocacy

The conference reinforced the growing international consensus that lasting security in Europe is impossible without accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It also strengthened the role of civil society, including NGO Tribunal, in advancing legal and policy discussions on the creation of a Special Tribunal and ensuring that justice remains central to the international response to the war.

Materials and conclusions from the event continue to inform ongoing advocacy efforts aimed at holding the Russian leadership accountable for the crime of aggression and reinforcing the international legal order.