Ukraine and 34 Other Nations Approve Body for Russia Invasion Damage Compensation

The Hague, Netherlands – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with representatives from 34 other nations, formally approved the creation of a compensation mechanism on Tuesday. This body is intended to provide financial redress for the extensive damages inflicted upon Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian invasion. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. questions persist regarding the specific sources of funding for this initiative.

Addressing leaders gathered in The Hague, Zelenskyy expressed his hope for robust international backing, emphasizing the need to ensure that "any damage caused by the war can be compensated." The International Claims Commission has been facilitated by The Council of Europe, a leading human rights organization. It will enable Ukrainians to seek reparations for "damage, loss, or injury" incurred as a result of Russian actions since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The Council of Europe insists that Russia should ultimately bear the financial responsibility for the damages. Nevertheless, a clear method for compelling Moscow to pay remains elusive. One potential solution involves utilizing a portion of the tens of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets currently held within Europe.

Zelenskyy stated earlier on Tuesday to the Dutch parliament that "the aggressor must pay."

On Monday, Zelenskyy participated in peace discussions in Berlin, which included Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Zelenskyy indicated a willingness to abandon Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO in exchange for security guarantees from the West, but he rejected the U.S. proposal to cede territory to Russia.

Speaking to journalists, he said, "These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression, and this is already a compromise on our part."

While 35 nations have expressed support for the International Claims Commission, formal ratification of the treaty is still required, typically involving legislative approval. The level of initial support is considered unprecedented for a Council of Europe treaty.

The commission will be responsible for assessing claims submitted to the register of damages, which is already operational and was launched during a Council of Europe summit in 2023. The register, based in The Hague, has already received approximately 80,000 claims.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced at a press conference that the European Union would contribute one million euros ($1.1 million) to support the commission's operations. The overall estimated cost for the commission's operation is 3.5 million euros ($4.1 million).