European leaders gathered at the summit of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik, Iceland, are focused on adopting a measure to hold Russia accountable for the invasion of Ukraine, and they should also approve a system that will determine how much exact compensation Moscow must pay for the reconstruction of the invaded country.
The Council of Europe, which brings together 46 countries, is opening its first summit in 18 years tonight in Iceland.
The focus of the gathering will be on providing full support to member Ukraine and condemning Russia, which has been expelled from the organization for waging war against its neighbor.
"We will take a real first step on our way to finding a solution to compensate for the crimes and damage that Russia is causing to Ukraine," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmykhal said.
While almost all European countries have provided military aid or taken in refugees from Ukraine, the Council of Europe is uniquely positioned to coordinate legal and judicial support.
"When we think about reconstruction, it is a very important legal element, to have a register of damages so that the victims get justice," said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Many European leaders came to Iceland determined to legally pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
By the end of the summit tomorrow, the leaders want to have the outlines of a system under which Moscow can be held accountable for later reparations to victims and allow Ukraine to begin economic recovery.
They hope that the US, which has observer status at the summit, will also support the initiative.
"The registry is just one of a number of international initiatives set up to ensure accountability for crimes committed against Ukraine," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
The Council of Europe also wants to establish a mechanism by which Russia can be held accountable for what are believed to be numerous crimes committed during the invasion.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that the development bank of the Council of Europe should initiate funds for the construction of mental health centers in Ukraine because there are many traumas among the population after almost 15 months of war.
"We have to focus on that within the framework of reconstruction," Macron said.
In Reykjavik, diplomacy tries to be a counterweight to Russian military power, and the main speakers are Sunak, von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Bonus video:
