Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi attended the ministerial meeting of the coalition of states that decided to establish the Special Criminal Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, held on Friday, May 9, in Lviv, Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, officials from the European Commission and the EU, and foreign ministers from countries involved in preparing the tribunal’s legal framework also participated in the event.
The participating states established the tribunal as an independent international court aimed at prosecuting the crime of aggression committed by the political and military leadership of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. This tribunal will complement existing international justice systems, as the International Criminal Court has limited jurisdiction over such crimes.
Moldova participated in the working group that, for over two years, helped lay the legal and diplomatic foundations of the new mechanism. At the Lviv meeting, Mihai Popsoi reaffirmed Moldova’s strong support for this crucial initiative.
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“This tribunal is a necessity for the entire international community. Only through justice can we ensure accountability and deter future acts of aggression,” stated Mihai Popsoi during the ministerial session.
The ministers adopted the Lviv Declaration, which enshrines the joint commitment to hold accountable those responsible for the crime of aggression. A crime that triggered all other atrocities committed in Ukraine.
“This aggression is not just an attack on Ukraine; it strikes at the entire international system that safeguards the security and rights of all nations. History will judge us by our actions. That is why we must act now,” emphasized the Moldovan official during his speech.
On May 14, 2025, Ukraine will officially submit the legal instruments drafted by the working group to the Council of Europe in Luxembourg, marking the next step toward establishing the tribunal. This action will launch the formal process of creating the court under the authority of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers during the ministerial session.
Moldova reconfirms its full commitment to contributing to this collective effort supporting international justice, accountability, and peace in Europe.
“Slava Ukraini!” concluded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.