Register of damage caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine signed at Iceland summit
The US, Japan, Canada and almost all European countries in the Council of Europe signed a register of damage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday (17 May), paving the way for claims for reparations and criminal prosecutions against Moscow, the Council of Europe announced at a meeting of heads of state in Iceland.
The register is intended as a first step towards reparations claims against Moscow for thousands of victims and billions of euros worth of damage, said European Council President Charles Michel. "We will take a real first step on our way to finding a way to compensate for these atrocities and damage that Russia is doing to Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski urged the Council of Europe to stand united to maintain its freedom. "We are Europeans, therefore we are free and we value peace. We are Europeans, therefore we give 100% when it comes to protecting our way of life. That is, to remain forever the ruler of our continent."
At the Council of Europe summit, Moldovan President Maia Sandu spoke about the challenges facing our country in the context of the war in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian Federation. "We are resisting Russia's destabilization efforts and we will continue to do so. Our democracy has a strong political will behind it, but it cannot face the magnitude of the challenges we face alone. Russia will continue to be a source of instability in the region for years to come. The best way to strengthen our democracy and freedom is to join the European Union."
Ukraine is part of the Council of Europe, which excluded Russia from its membership in March 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion. Kiev has welcomed the creation of the register, an instrument that will be based in The Hague, like the International Criminal Court (ICC). The latter, initially set up for three years, is to receive victims' complaints and gather evidence of human and material damage.
