Austria announced it will join the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, becoming the 20th participant.

France likewise expressed readiness to join, enabling work on the Special Tribunal related to Russia's aggression.

Austria formally notified the Council of Europe of its readiness to join the expanded steering committee for the tribunal, as reported by Andrii Sybiha.

The information comes from Ukrainian MFA statements with accompanying reporting from Babel.ua and X (formerly Twitter) posts.

Experts say holding Russia accountable for war crimes is essential for a just and lasting peace.

International support and institutional groundwork are advancing ahead of formal proceedings against aggression-related crimes by Russia in Ukraine.

The tribunal, created by Ukraine and the Council of Europe in 2025, can investigate and try senior Russian and Belarusian officials, potentially in absentia, but cannot prosecute sitting heads of state due to immunity.

In January 2026, Zelenskyy noted limited progress on creating the tribunal despite EU funding.

Officials praised neutrality as a responsible stance and stressed the goal of lasting European peace.

The broader context includes EU-Ukraine defense cooperation, with 57 defense projects under the EDF and closer ties to Ukrainian manufacturers.

The tribunal is described as the first of its kind for military aggression since Nuremberg, with work beginning during the war.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced the decision on the evening of April 15.