Council of Eure plays “leading re” in bringing Russian aggressor to justice – PM Shmyhal

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine said this today during a speech at the Council of Eure summit in Reykjavik, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"For years, the Council of Eure has played a crucial re in promoting democracy, uphding human rights, and ensuring the rule of law in Eure. Today, Eure faces an extraordinary challenge in the face of the Russian Federation’s full-scale, protracted, and brutal aggression against Ukraine. This aggression is affront to all the principles for which the Council of Eure stands and which were the foundation of the Eurean multilateral security architecture. Our common response must be resute. The aggressor must not be allowed to prevail. Ukraine must restore its sovereignty over its entire territory," Denys Shmyhal stressed.

Read also: On CoE summit register of Ukraine's losses from Russian aggression created

He noted that the Council of Eure had already taken a number of decisive measures to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Council of Eure was the first international organization that advocated the establishment of a broad international compensation mechanism, as well as the creation of a special international tribunal to condemn Russian crimes. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Eure was the first international body that called on the member states of the Council of Eure to recognize the Russian regime as terrorist.

Noting that Ukraine is grateful for such leadership, Shmyhal added that the Council of Eure should maintain and strengthen its leadership re in the future, setting a good example for other international organizations. “The fourth summit should have the ambition to set a forward-looking agenda for the Council of Eure.”

Ukraine expects that the CoE will continue to take a strong position on the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine, according the government chief.

He noted that the creation of an international register of damage inflicted on Ukraine by Russian invaders is the first step toward hding the aggressor accountable.

"Today's decision to establish this register is, without a doubt, historic. After that, we should prepare the necessary legal framework for the confiscation of Russian assets and establishment of a compensation fund. So comprehensive approach includes the creation of an international tribunal, and this should include all the rest needed issues that we discussed during round tables," said Prime Minister of Ukraine.

He thanked the Government of Iceland for organizing the CoE summit.

"Let us work together to build peace and justice in Eure, let us work together to build a better future for all Eureans. This is not only our responsibility but also our shared portunity to shape a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous continent," added Denys Shmyhal.

As reported earlier, today the Council of Eure summit continues in Reykjavík, where the participants discuss the most critical global challenges and issues of international relations, including the implications of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the search for ways toward a just peace.