Russia's leaders must be held accountable for genocidal war in Ukraine

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Foreign Urmas Reinsalu attended a UN discussion on legal accountability in New York on Thursday, where national representatives spoke about working together to hold Russia accountable for the crimes committed in Ukraine.

The foreign minister said it was the duty of the international community to offer Ukraine every support until it has won the war and to make sure that no crime committed in Ukraine goes unpunished.

"We must make a joint effort for the sake of the millions of victims who have suffered brutal violence, lost their homes, loved ones and friends or have been wounded or killed in the war," Reinsalu underlined.

The minister raised the issue of ensuring Russia's legal accountability for the crimes of aggression organized by Russia's leadership.

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates war crimes and crimes against humanity but a separate tribunal should be established for prosecuting crimes of aggression and bringing perpetrators to justice. Russia's leadership must be held legally responsible for its genocidal war," he said.

Reinsalu called on countries worldwide to declare Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine a genocide.