Ukraine’s top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba condemns ‘deadlock’ preventing creation of tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has condemned the lack of progress on the creation of a tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for the crimes of aggression committed during the Ukraine war.

“Unfortunately, we are in a kind of deadlock,” the senior diplomat said on Friday, adding that “divisions” among G7 leaders are stalling progress on the issue.

According to the Ukrainian minister, the G7 group “stands firmly” in favor of a hybrid tribunal, based on Ukrainian law but also involving international judges. This scenario, however, wouldn’t strip the immunity of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, or Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Determined to hold those individuals responsible, Kyiv cannot accept this option.

Kuleba also pointed out “a lack of will” on the issue of transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. “After a year and a half, I’m still hearing from Europe and America: we are working on it,” he said.