Russia condemns EU proposal to create special tribunal on Ukraine war

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia will condemn any attempts to create a special tribunal to investigate its actions in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

"As for attempts to establish some 'tribunals,' they will have no legitimacy, will not be accepted by us and will be condemned by us," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow.

The remarks came a day after European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen proposed a "specialized court to try Russia's crimes" in Ukraine, where Moscow initiated a "special military operation" this February.

She also called to confiscate frozen Russian private and state assets for compensation to Ukraine for the damages it has caused in the neighboring country.

Von der Leyen said the union has already blocked €300 billion of the Russian Central Bank reserves and has frozen €19 billion of Russian oligarch's money.

Peskov said Russia has also been gathering evidence of "Kyiv regime crimes" since 2014.

On remarks by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that Ukraine has to first focus on remaining a sovereign and independent country rather than becoming an alliance member, Peskov said: "It is unlikely that this means some kind of epiphany on the part of the alliance."

"No, the alliance is still imposing war on the Ukrainian regime, the alliance still prefers to 'fight to the last Ukrainian'. The alliance is still pumping Ukraine with its weapons, thereby, naturally, prolonging the war," he added.