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On 26 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a notification to the Council of Europe on Lithuania's participation in the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

In this way, Lithuania becomes the first country after Ukraine to declare its readiness to join the Special Tribunal as the founder of its Steering Committee. The relevant decision was adopted by the Lithuanian Government on 19 November 2025.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the ongoing military aggression, a group of like-minded states initiated the creation of a new international legal mechanism capable of holding the political and military leadership of Russia and Belarus to account for the crime of aggression. Lithuania has consistently and actively pursued this objective, with one preparatory meeting of the Working Group taking place in Vilnius at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2024.

War crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Russia and its accomplices in Ukraine are investigated by law enforcement authorities of Ukraine and other states, as well as by the International Criminal Court. However, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction to investigate and punish the crime of aggression.

Accountability for the crime of aggression is vital to achieving justice and lasting peace in the region and the world. The crime of aggression is widely recognised as the most serious international crime. The establishment of the Special Tribunal is therefore a necessary step towards preventing impunity for current and future aggressors. It reflects a strong wish to protect the international order based on international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

After more than two years of preparatory work, it has been decided that the Special Tribunal will be established jointly with the Council of Europe. To that end, a bilateral agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine was concluded on 25 June 2025, while other states will support and participate in the work of the Special Tribunal by joining the Steering Committee of the Tribunal established by a resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The further creation of the Special Tribunal will take place in stages. Its launch depends on securing the participation of at least 25 accession countries. The Special Tribunal is planned to be  fully operational by the end of 2029 or the beginning of 2030 and will be based in The Hague.

Lithuania's leadership in joining the Special Tribunal is crucial in order to promote political and financial support for it from other states. Although the Special Tribunal is co-founded with the Council of Europe, it will be open not only to members of the Council of Europe to join its financing and steering committees.