International Claims Commission for Ukraine Set for Launch in The Hague

International Claims Commission for Ukraine Set for Launch in The Hague

The key function of the International Claims Commission will be to review, assess, and decide upon claims submitted through the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | December 13, 2025

Leaders and senior politicians from across Europe and beyond are preparing to gather at the World Forum in The Hague on Tuesday, December 16, to launch a new convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The event, convened by the Council of Europe and the Netherlands, represents a significant step towards securing compensation for Ukraine following Russia’s war of aggression.

The International Claims Commission will constitute the second part of the compensation mechanism concerning Russia’s war. This new body is designed to build on the foundation of the existing Register of Damage for Ukraine.

The Commission will be established within the framework of the Council of Europe and will be open for participation by other countries. Formal negotiations on the Commission were organized earlier this year by Ukraine and the Netherlands, with support from the Council of Europe. This process involved over 50 interested states and the European Union working to draw up the convention, which is open to other countries and regional organizations.

The key function of the International Claims Commission will be to review, assess, and decide upon claims submitted through the Register of Damage for Ukraine. It will also determine the amount of compensation, if any, that is due in each case. The Register of Damage, created in 2023, serves to collect and record compensation claims submitted by individuals, public bodies, and organizations in Ukraine. So far, the Register has already received over 80,000 claims, and forty-four states along with the European Union have joined it.

For the convention establishing the International Claims Commission to officially enter into force, it must be ratified by 25 signatories, and sufficient funds must be secured to support its initial work.

Ahead of the event, Secretary General Alain Berset emphasized the necessity of these measures. He stated that the International Claims Commission and the Register of Damage for Ukraine will serve as “the independent international tools dealing with the question of compensation for Russia’s war”.

Mr. Berset stressed the importance of working together to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace. The diplomatic conference and press conference scheduled for 16 December will be webcast live in English, French, Spanish, and Ukrainian via the Council of Europe’s website.