International Claims Commission Launched to Address Ukraine's War Reparations

World leaders convened in The Hague to launch an International Claims Commission, aiming to address reparations for Ukraine's destruction due to Russian attacks. The commission seeks to validate claims against Russia, with plans to fund compensation through EU-frozen Russian assets. The initiative faces complexities, including possible amnesty in a peace deal.

On Tuesday, international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, gathered in The Hague to announce the formation of an International Claims Commission. The initiative aims to secure reparations for the extensive damage sustained by Ukraine in the wake of Russian attacks, which allegedly include war crimes.

The conference—also attended by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas—parallels a U.S.-led diplomatic push to resolve the conflict born from Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel emphasized reparations as integral to accountability and conflict resolution.

Details on financing the compensation remain under discussion, considering options like using EU-frozen Russian assets. Meanwhile, the commission has already registered over 80,000 claims, with hopes pinned on making Russia accountable. However, disputes persist, and proposed peace deals may involve amnesty, complicating compensation efforts.