European leaders have agreed to establish an International Claims Commission to assess reparations for damage caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The commission, created through a treaty signed in The Hague by 35 countries, is intended to evaluate claims and determine compensation amounts.
The move comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, to bring the conflict closer to an end.
The Netherlands-based commission is coordinated by the Council of Europe and represents the next phase of an international compensation mechanism.
It will review claims already submitted to the Register of Damage, which was established in 2023 and has received more than 80,000 applications.
Claims can be filed by individuals, companies, and public bodies for damage, loss, or injury caused since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the gathering that making Russia pay for its actions was “exactly where the real path to peace begins”.
He added that accountability was necessary to demonstrate that aggression carries consequences under international rules.
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel described the launch as a significant step toward resolving the conflict.
“Without accountability, a conflict cannot be fully resolved,” he said, stressing that reparations form part of that process.
How compensation would ultimately be paid remains unresolved, with discussions focusing on frozen Russian assets and member state contributions.
The European Union has frozen hundreds of billions of euros in Russian funds held within Europe.
EU leaders are under pressure to decide whether those assets can be used to support Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.
Belgium has raised concerns about potential legal repercussions due to its role as host to Euroclear, where most assets are held.
The World Bank estimates Ukraine’s reconstruction costs at $524 billion through December 2024, excluding damage from intensified attacks this year.
Russian officials have denied allegations of war crimes and criticised proposals to use immobilised assets.
The commission’s establishment coincides with renewed diplomatic talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying an agreement was closer than before.
While the commission offers no guarantee of swift payments, its supporters say it lays the groundwork for future accountability and compensation.