24 September 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard called for full accountability for Russia’s violations of international law.

“First, Russia as the aggressor must never be rewarded. If Russia is not held accountable for its flagrant violations of the UN Charter, it would set a dangerous precedent. As a brave young woman from Crimea said, this is not only about lines on a map. Second, justice and accountability are fundamentally intertwined” .

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Maria Malmer Stenergard, reaffirmed Sweden’s unwavering commitment to the UN Charter, emphasizing that full justice and legal accountability are paramount to resolving the war against Ukraine.

The Minister stressed that Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories has entrenched severe and systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. She demanded that all unlawfully taken children be returned to their families and all arbitrarily detained civilians be released.

To ensure deterrence against future aggression and secure justice for the victims, Sweden advocates for immediate multilateral legal actions:

“Accountability is key to achieving justice for the victims and acts as a deterrent against future violations. We therefore believe now is the time to take further necessary steps to establish the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the International Claims Commission for Ukraine,” the Swedish Foreign Minister emphasized.

Concluding her statement, Maria Malmer Stenergard highlighted the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people caused by Russia’s refusal to engage meaningfully in serious peace negotiations, choosing instead to intensify deliberate attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure.