European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, agreed to establish an international body to determine tens of billions of euros in reparations for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. The decision was signed by 35 countries.
The newly formed International Claims Commission for Ukraine will assess and decide on compensation claims, including amounts to be paid. Zelensky emphasized that strong international support is essential for victims to feel any war damages are addressed.
The commission follows the creation of a “Register of Damages,” which has already received over 80,000 claims from individuals and organizations. The next step will be setting up a compensation fund, though details about its operation remain unclear.
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The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, is coordinating the reparations process. Secretary General Alain Berset stated that the compensation fund is expected to be established within 12 to 18 months, after which payments to victims will begin.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that the commission will operate from The Hague, sending a message that justice must follow once peace is achieved. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas assured Ukrainians that their suffering has not been forgotten.
Funding remains a key challenge, with EU leaders discussing the use of an estimated 200 billion euros of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. While Germany backs the plan, Belgium has opposed it due to legal concerns, highlighting ongoing debates over asset allocation.