EU ministers visit Bucha, vow accountability for Russian war crimes
European diplomats gathered in Kyiv region to commemorate victims and reaffirm commitment to justice mechanisms for alleged atrocities.
12:39 PM
European Union foreign ministers visited Bucha on Tuesday to commemorate victims of mass atrocities committed during Russia's temporary occupation of the Kyiv region in 2022, issuing a joint declaration demanding full accountability for alleged war crimes.
"We gathered today in Kyiv and in Bucha to commemorate the victims of the mass atrocities in Bucha, committed during Russia's temporary occupation of parts of the Kyiv region in 2022," the ministers stated in their declaration. "We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."
The EU delegation welcomed recent institutional progress toward establishing mechanisms for justice. Officials said the Council of Europe, with European Union support, has advanced work toward launching a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and establishing an International Compensation Commission for Ukraine.
Evidence collected after Russian troops withdrew from Bucha underscores the necessity of ensuring comprehensive accountability, according to the ministers' statement. The declaration emphasized that the evidence gathered at the site demands action through international legal channels.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed journalists at the "Bucha Summit 2026," stating that Ukraine is working to ensure accountability for those who committed war crimes. "The track of justice will move forward… It is long. At first, no one believed in it, but now quite a few leaders do. You see, we are gradually advancing it," Zelensky said.
Zelensky identified the issue of justice as a key point in ongoing negotiations with the Netherlands. He noted that the topic was raised during the first visit to Ukraine by the country's new Prime Minister, Rob Jetten. The president announced plans to visit the Netherlands within a month to continue discussions on the matter.
"We will follow this path. We will push through regardless," Zelensky said, emphasizing Ukraine's determination to pursue accountability mechanisms despite the lengthy process ahead.