Watch the video: The Council of Europe wants to hold Russia accountable for war damage in Ukraine
STORY: The states of the Council of Europe want to hold Russia accountable for the attack on Ukraine. At their summit meeting in Iceland on Wednesday, they want to give the go-ahead for setting up a damage register for the Ukraine war. In it, all damage caused by Russia in Ukraine should be recorded, according to the draft of the summit declaration. The register is intended to be the first step on the way to possible compensation payments. In his speech at the summit, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also demanded that Russia pay for the damage caused in Ukraine during the war. “The Council of Europe is also important for punishing the war crimes of the Russian occupiers and for demanding accountability for the enormous damage that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine every day. The damage register that we want to start together here in Reykjavik plays a part in this central role.” French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made similar statements. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it could make Russian soldiers shy away from new war crimes in Ukraine if there was a chance they would be held accountable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed in a video link that the European states should supply his country with more air defense systems and fighter jets.