Alain Berset, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), concluded a 4-6 December visit to Ukraine during which he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps in supporting Ukraine following Russia’s ongoing invasion. Berset reiterated that Ukraine remains the Council of Europe’s top priority and outlined several new initiatives to further bolster Ukraine’s recovery and accountability efforts.
During his meetings, Berset confirmed that early next year, the Council of Europe will appoint a Special Envoy on the Children of Ukraine, tasked with coordinating efforts to ensure the human rights of Ukrainian children, both within Ukraine and in other member states of the Council of Europe.
Berset also announced the creation of a Task Force within the Council of Europe to coordinate the Organisation’s activities in support of Ukraine and collaborate with external actors on Ukrainian issues.
President Zelenskyy welcomed these measures, particularly the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage, and expressed Ukraine’s hope for continued support in creating a Claims Commission as the next step toward a compensation mechanism. The Secretary-General emphasized that decisions on these vital initiatives must be made urgently, particularly concerning establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.
The visit also underscored the importance of accountability for Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine, with Berset reaffirming that sustainable peace can only be achieved through justice. He highlighted the Council of Europe’s ongoing efforts, including cases before the European Court of Human Rights and its Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction, as part of Ukraine’s path toward a free, democratic, and European future.
Berset toured key sites of the ongoing war, including the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital, which was struck by a Russian missile attack in July 2024, and the town of Yahidne, where over 300 Ukrainians were trapped by Russian forces in 2022. Witnessing the devastating impact of the war firsthand, Berset reiterated the Council of Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
Throughout his visit, Berset met with key Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Shmyhal, Chairman of Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, to discuss further actions the Council of Europe is taking to support Ukraine in its quest for justice and European integration.
The Council of Europe’s Register of Damage, which began operations in 2023, has already received over 10,000 claims for damages related to the war, highlighting the significant impact of Russia’s aggression on Ukrainian citizens and infrastructure.
