Day 280: EU Proposes Special Court for Russian 'War Crimes' and Using Frozen Assets for Ukraine

Facts

• Following a talk on Tuesday between G7 justice ministers, representatives of the European Commission, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) over opening a probe into allegations of Russian war crimes, European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed to set up a special court to investigate the claims.
• While continuing to support the work of the ICC — which already has a probe of allegations against Russia in progress — Von der Leyen said she'll work to get "the broadest international support possible" for the special tribunal. She further proposed using frozen Russian assets, seized by the EU, to pay for Ukrainian damages.
• "Russia and its oligarchs have to compensate Ukraine for the damage and cover the costs for rebuilding the country," von der Leyen said. "We have the means to make Russia pay," she added, stating that 300B euros ($310B) of Russian central bank reserves were "immobilized," while 19B euros ($20B) belonging to "Russian oligarchs" had been seized.
• Meanwhile, as the second day of a NATO summit continued in Romania, Ukraine and Britain on Wednesday signed a digital trade agreement that gives Kyiv access to London's financial services and promises increased cooperation on cybersecurity and technology between the two countries.
• On the ground, pro-Russia separatists from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) claimed to have captured Kurdyumivka, a settlement on the outskirts of Bakhmut where fighting remains heaviest. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank, reported: "Russian forces made marginal gains around Bakhmut on Nov. 29, but Russian forces remain unlikely to have advanced at the tempo that Russian sources claimed."
• According to Ukrainian officials, five civilians were killed and 15 were injured in Donetsk in the last 24 hours, while one civilian was killed and five others were injured in Kherson. A teenager was also reportedly killed after Russia allegedly struck a hospital in the Sumy region. One injury was reported in Kharkiv and one in Dnipropetrovsk.
• Meanwhile, in Ukrainian attacks, DPR officials said six civilians were injured over the past day. An oil depot in the Russian region of Beryansk, which borders Ukraine, was also reportedly on fire on Wednesday.

Sources: Associated Press, Inverness Courier, Tass, Ukrinform, and Dan News.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Since Putin launched his invasion on Feb. 24, his forces have committed a number of atrocities in Bucha, Mariupol and elsewhere. This tribunal will help ensure justice is delivered for these war crimes.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. The West continues to fabricate and exaggerate Russia's actions while ignoring the very real crimes committed by Kyiv. However, Russia will continue to highlight these atrocities to the international community.

Predictions