The leaders of the European Union declare that Russia and its leadership must bear full responsibility for the aggressive war against Ukraine and for the most serious crimes committed.

The leaders consolidated this position in the conclusions that were adopted during a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday.

“Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war. The European Council supports ongoing efforts, including in the Core Group, to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine that would enjoy the broadest cross-regional support and legitimacy, and a future compensation mechanism,” the document reads.

The European Council strongly condemned Russia's ongoing human rights violations in the occupied Ukrainian territories, including the deportation of children.

“The European Council strongly condemns Russia’s continuous human rights violations in the occupied Ukrainian territories, including the deportation of children. It firmly rejects and will never recognise the illegal so-called ‘elections’ organised by Russia in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, nor their results,” the conclusions say.

In addition, the EU leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine in coordination with international partners.

“The European Council welcomes the recent strengthening of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine which will allow the scaling up of support for Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in Ukraine’s liberated and adjacent territories, and for reforms in the context of its EU accession process. The European Council calls for further support for psychological and psychosocial rehabilitation and for increased demining assistance,” the document reads.

The leaders also assured that the European Union and its member States would continue their intensive global outreach efforts to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, as well as the key principles and objectives of the Ukrainian Peace Formula with a view to holding a future Global Peace Summit.

In addition, the European Council stresses the strategic importance of security and stability in the Black Sea region. “It highlights the need to assist Ukraine in rebuilding its position in its traditional export markets, notably in the Middle East and Africa,” conclusions say.