European Leaders Launch International Claims Commission to Compensate Ukraine

European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will meet in The Hague on Tuesday to launch an International Claims Commission aimed at compensating Ukraine for hundreds of billions of dollars in damage caused by Russian attacks and alleged war crimes.

The one-day conference is being co-hosted by the Netherlands and the 46-member Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights body. Dozens of senior officials are expected to attend, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The meeting comes amid ongoing U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian officials were not immediately available for comment. Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces committed war crimes during the conflict.

Amnesty Concerns in Peace Talks

The possible inclusion of an amnesty for wartime atrocities in a future peace deal — an idea at one point floated by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump — could complicate European efforts to compensate victims of abuses in Ukraine. These include allegations of sexual violence, child deportations and the destruction of religious and civilian sites.

The commission will incorporate the Register of Damage for Ukraine, established by the Council of Europe in 2023, which has already received more than 80,000 claims from individuals, organisations and public bodies across a wide range of categories.

More than 50 countries and the European Union have drafted a Council of Europe convention to formally establish the commission. It will come into force once at least 25 signatories ratify the agreement and sufficient funding is secured. Dozens of countries have signalled support, and up to 35 nations are expected to sign the convention at Tuesday’s meeting, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

Assessing Claims and Awarding Compensation

The commission — the second pillar of an international compensation mechanism for Ukraine — will review and rule on claims submitted to the Register of Damage, determining compensation on a case-by-case basis. Claims may be filed by individuals, companies or the Ukrainian state for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian actions in or against Ukraine on or after February 24, 2022, covering alleged violations of international law.

Reconstruction Costs and Funding Questions

The World Bank has estimated Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction costs over the next decade at $524 billion (€447 billion), nearly three times the country’s projected economic output in 2024. This estimate covers damage up to December 2024 and excludes destruction caused this year, as Russian attacks have intensified against utilities, transport networks and civilian infrastructure.

How compensation awards would be financed remains unresolved, but options under discussion include the use of Russian assets frozen by the European Union.

Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is Europe’s oldest intergovernmental organisation, established to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the continent.