Speaking remotely during a Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, Iceland on Tuesday, Zelensky said that Russia's "crime of aggression" against Ukraine must be investigated and prosecuted, news agencies reported.
"There should ... be a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression – so that those, whose heads this terror was born in, are brought to responsibility," Zelensky said, as quoted by his office.
He urged unity in efforts to bring Russia to account.
"Europe has been waiting for such times – times when leaders would act in one hundred percent unity and with one hundred percent results for the sake of protecting Europe, for the sake of our common values," he said.
He added: "We are Europeans, so we are free. We are Europeans, so we value peace. We are Europeans, so we act at one hundred percent of our strength when it comes to protecting our way of life. Let these be forever the rules of our continent."
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday called for the creation of a special "register of damages" for Russian war crimes and destruction in Ukraine, saying that it would be "an important step to hold to account those guilty of crimes committed in Ukraine."
Zelensky in his speech thanked the Council of Europe "for the decision on the Register of Damages caused by Russia's aggression."
"This brings closer the creation of a full-fledged Compensation Mechanism that will show the world that aggression is not worth even thinking about," Zelensky said.
More than 40 European leaders gathered in Iceland's capital Reykjavik on Tuesday for a two-day Council of Europe summit to discuss human rights and security challenges including Russia's war against Ukraine, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The Council of Europe is an international organisation that brings together 46 countries aiming to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.
Ukraine has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1995.
Russia was also a member, but it was expelled from the organization in March last year, weeks after it invaded Ukraine, officials have noted.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 448 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, ukrinform.net
