Netherlands to Host Full Operational Phase of Special Tribunal for Ukraine

The government of the Netherlands has agreed to host the fully-fledged operational phase of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the decision on Sunday, July 5, stating that the tribunal is now moving from conceptual discussions into a tangible legal institution.

“The Netherlands has decided that it will host on its territory not only the preparatory phases of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, but also its fully-fledged operational phase,” Sybiha stated.

According to the Foreign Minister, the tribunal’s establishment in The Hague is structured in distinct stages. The institution is currently entering “Phase 1” (the Skeleton Tribunal), a transitional period focused on forming the structural framework. During this phase, 15 judges will be selected for the registry, procedural rules will be approved, and the necessary administrative and security infrastructure will be established.

Following this preparation, the institution will move to “Phase 2,” becoming a fully-fledged tribunal. In this operational stage, the court will exercise its jurisdiction to conduct active investigations, issue indictments, hold trials, and hand down verdicts specifically regarding the crime of aggression.

“This decision goes far beyond an organizational issue,” Sybiha noted. “It demonstrates the international community’s readiness to move from supporting the idea of accountability to creating an institution that will ensure it in practice.”

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A ‘historic decision’ for accountability

The Dutch commitment follows a concerted diplomatic push by Kyiv and its allies to establish a legal mechanism capable of prosecuting the initial decision to launch the illegal war – a specific jurisdiction not covered by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is currently investigating separate war crimes committed during the conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the development as a “historic decision” following a telephone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday, July 3.

“This decision will make it possible to hold Russia’s top political and military leadership accountable specifically for the crime of aggression, not only for its consequences,” Zelensky said in a statement.

During the call, Zelensky thanked the Dutch government for its ongoing solidarity and military assistance. The president also briefed the Dutch prime minister on the aftermath of a massive Russian overnight strike on Kyiv, noting that air defense remains a critical priority in bilateral cooperation.

The Special Tribunal initiative is currently backed by a growing coalition of 36 countries and the European Union. Last month, the Norwegian parliament unanimously ratified the country’s accession to the Special Tribunal and the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, further expanding the international coalition supporting the accountability mechanism.