The Hague to host preparations for Special Tribunal on Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Hague to host preparations for Special Tribunal on Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Hague, the Netherlands,26 May 2026  - The Hague will host the preparatory phase for an international tribunal concerning the crime of aggression related to the war in Ukraine. Over the coming years, around 40 to 50 people are expected to work in the city on the development of the tribunal in several phases, further reinforcing The Hague’s longstanding role as the international city of Peace and Justice.

The initiative concerns the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA), which aims to hold individual political and military leaders criminally accountable for the crime of aggression: the planning, preparation and execution of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The tribunal specifically focuses on the alleged crime of aggression itself — the launching of the war — rather than war crimes or crimes against humanity, which already fall under the jurisdiction of institutions including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The establishment of the tribunal is taking place under the auspices of the Council of Europe and will proceed in multiple stages. For security reasons, the location where staff members will be housed has not yet been disclosed and will be communicated at a later stage.

Mayor Jan van Zanen said the arrival of the tribunal preparations underlines The Hague’s international responsibility.

“By hosting the preparations for this tribunal, The Hague once again fulfills its role as the international city of Peace and Justice. It is of great importance that impunity is challenged and that a clear norm is set against international aggression. The war in Ukraine has displaced and cost the lives of millions of people. That cannot and must not happen without consequences. With this step, The Hague once again contributes to strengthening the international legal order.”

The arrival of the preparatory activities in The Hague does not automatically mean the final tribunal itself will ultimately be based in the city. A separate procedure is held to determine the location of the fully operational tribunal, with any Dutch hosting decision to be taken by the Dutch national government.

Closing a legal gap

A separate tribunal is necessary to address a legal gap concerning the crime of aggression. While the International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine, the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in relation to Russia, because Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute.

The preparatory phase will begin with a smaller advance team before expanding into what officials describe as a “skeleton tribunal” consisting of several dozen staff members. In a later phase, participating countries will decide where and how the tribunal will become fully operational and able to handle cases.